52Sksi^SG 

\ 
I 


LIBRARY 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

GIFT  OF 

MRS.  MARY  WOLFSOHN 

IN   MEMORY  OF 

HENRY  WOLFSOHN 


THE 


REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE; 


EXHIBITING  A 


GKAPHIC  DISPLAY  OF  SAYINGS  AND  DOINGS 


EMINENT  FREE  AND  ACCEPTED  MASONS, 

FROM  THE 

REVIVAL  IN  1717  BY  DR.  DESAGULTERS,  »O  THE  REUNION  IN  1813  BY  THEIR 
R.H.  THE  DUKE  OF  KENT  AND  SUSSEX. 


BY 

GEORGE  OLIVER,  D.D., 

AUTHOR  OP    "THE  HISTORICAL   LANDMARKS   OF    FREEMASONRY, "  ETC.,    PAST 

D.G.M.     OP      THE     GRAND     LODGE     OP      MASSACHUSETTS,    U.    S.,     PAST 

D.P.G.M.     OP      LINCOLNSHIRE,     AND      HONORARY      MEMBER      OP 

VARIOUS    LODGES    IN    EVERY    QUARTER    OP    THE    GLOBE. 


Miscuit  utile  dulci.— HOR. 


NEW  TOEK: 
MASONIC  PUBLISHING  AND  MANUFACTURING  CO,, 

430   BKOOME    STREET. 
1866. 


PREFACE. 


FREEMASONRY,  like  all  other  sciences,  is  a  system  of 
progression.  Something  more  is  required  to  constitute 
a  bright  Mason  than  a  knowledge  of  the  elements  of 
the  Craft.  A  carpenter  may  know  the  names  of  his 
tools,  and  have  acquired  some  dexterity  in  their  practical 
use ;  but  this  will  not  enable  him  to  build  a  house,  or  to 
construct  a  common  dressing-case. 

If  any  one  is  desirous  of  being  a  Mason,  in  the  strict 
sense  of  the  word,  he  must  make  himself  acquainted 
with  something  more  than  words,  signs,  and  tokens. 
The  three  stages  of  initiation  can  no  more  convert  a 
man  into  a  Mason,  than  the  indenture  of  an  apprentice 
can  make  him  a  mechanic. 

He  must  read  and  meditate,  study  with  care  and 
attention  the  history  and  doctrines  of  the  Order,  and 
attend  his  Lodge  with  the  utmost  regularity,  that  he 
may  become  familiar  with  its  discipline  by  actual  per- 
sonal observation. 

There  is  no  Royal  road  to  Freemasonry. 

The  Gordian  knot  can  be  untied  by  diligence  and 
application  alone,  and  he  who  is  ambitious  to  share  in 
the  honours  of  Masonry,  must  work  his  way  up  the 
ladder  step  by  step,  with  patient  assiduity ;  and,  u  for- 
getting what  is  behind,  he  must  press  forward  toward 
the  mark"  he  aims  at,  and  his  mental  exertions  will  not 
fail  of  their  reward. 

The  contents  of  this  book  will  economize  the  labour 
of  his  researches,  by  placing  before  him  the  gradual 
progress  of  Masonry  from  small  beginnings  to  its  present 


iy  PREFACE. 

extension  and  prevailing  influence  in  every  country  ou 
the  face  of  the  habitable  globe.  And,  which  is  of  still 
greater  importance,  it  will  make  him  familiar  with  the 
doctrines  and  practices,  manners  and  customs  of  the 
Fraternity,  and  its  master  minds  in  times  when  its 
purity  had  undergone  no  change. 

It  will  be  evident  to  the  most  casual  observer,  that 
the  information  contained  in  this  work  could  not  have 
been  acquired  by  the  most  industrious  and  persevering 
observation  of  a  single  life,  even  though  it  might  be 
extended  to  an  extraordinary  length,  because  it  consists 
principally  of  private  anecdotes,  which  could  only  be 
known  by  personal  communication  with  the  parties. 
And,  accordingly,  it  is  the  result  of  an  experience  ex- 
tending over  three  successive  generations. 

The  facts  are  these :  My  lamented  father,  who  died  a 
few  years  ago,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-two,  was 
made  a  Mason,  as  I  have  reason  to  believe,  in  the  year 
1784.  He  was  very  methodical  in  all  his  transactions ; 
and,  being  a  masonic  enthusiast,  he  noted  down  in  a 
diary,  expressly  devoted  to  that  purpose,  under  a  vivid 
recollection  of  the  facts,  whether  they  were  witnessed 
by  himself  or  communicated  to  him  by  others,  every 
event  or  conversation  that  struck  his  fancy  as  being 
either  singular,  characteristic,  or  important  in  the  work- 
ing of  the  Craft. 

By  this  process  he  preserved  several  interesting  con- 
versations of  our  distinguished  Brethren  in  the  eighteenth 
century,  which  would  otherwise  have  been  irrecoverably 
lost.  Added  to  this,  he  was  acquainted,  in  the  early 
part  of  his  life,  with  an  intelligent  Brother  who  was 
initiated  by  Dr.  Maimingham  in  1740,  and  personally 
knew  Brothers  Desaguliers,  Anderson,  Martin  Clare, 
Hutchinson,  Calcott,  Preston,  and  all  the  great  lights 
of  that  period.  He  was,  although  advanced  in  years 
when  my  father  knew  him,  full  of  anecdote ;  and  having 


PREFACE.  V 

been  an  attentive  observer  of  passing  occurrences,  my 
father  derived  a  fund  of  valuable  knowledge  from  his 
communications,  which  he  committed  to  writing  as  he 
received  them,  and  the  MS.  came  into  my  hands  a  short 
time  before  his  death.  It  contains  many  curious  parti- 
culars, some  of  which  are  now  made  public  for  the  first 
time.  In  fact,  I  do  not  believe  there  is  in  existence  so 
good  an  account  of  the  masonic  practice  of  that  century, 
as  is  contained  in  this  manuscript. 

For  this  reason  the  following  pages  must  not  be 
accounted  fabulous  and  without  authority,  because  its 
contents  are  communicated  through  an  imaginary  medi- 
um ;  for  the  author  is  in  possession  of  authentic  vouchers 
for  every  transaction.  It  is  true  the  language  has  been 
corrected,  and  in  many  cases,  the  dialogue  amplified  and 
extended,  but  he  is  not  aware  that  a  single  event  has 
either  been  misrepresented  or  heightened  in  colouring 
or  perspective.  They  will  contain  a  true  picture  of  the 
manners,  customs,  usages,  and  ceremonies  of  successive 
periods  during  the  eighteenth  century,  drawn  from  the 
actual  working  of  Lodges,  and  enlivened  by  numerous 
anecdotes  of  the  master  spirits  of  the  several  ages  in 
they  respectively  flourished;  and,  under  whose  active 
and  judicious  superintendence,  Freemasonry  reaped  vast 
improvements,  arid  attained  a  high  preponderating  influ- 
ence and  merited  celebrity. 

The  book  will,  therefore,  unquestionably  prove  a 
welcome  addition  to  the  meagre  history  of  Masonry  dur- 
ing the  same  period,  which  proceeded  from  the  pens  of 
Anderson,  Noorthouck,  and  Preston,  and  constitute  al- 
most the  only  records  to  which  we  can  refer  for  a 
knowledge  of  the  very  important  events  that  distin- 
guished Freemasonry  from  the  revival  to  the  reunion  of 
the  ancient  and  modern  sections. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  author  has  mentioned 
many  peculiar  usages  and  customs  which  the  present 


VI  PREFACE. 

system  of  Masonry  does  not  tolerate;  but  being  charac- 
teristic of  the  period,  they  will  be,  notwithstanding,  an 
acceptable  boon  to  the  accumulating  stores  of  masonic 
literature.  With  our  present  lights,  the  inexperienced 
Mason  may  be  inclined  to  ridicule  the  practices  of  a  by- 
gone age,  and  treat  its  peculiar  doctrines  as  so  many 
improbable  fictions;  but  he  should  remember  that  the 
best  Masons  of  the  days  here  referred  to  had  not  dipped 
so  deeply,  as  we  have  had  the  good  fortune  to  do,  into 
the  recondite  interpretation  of  the  mysteries  which  they 
transmitted  to  posterity ;  and  that,  consequently,  their 
customs  and  amusements  took  a  tone  from  the  peculiar 
constitution  of  society,  and  bore  a  patent  resemblance 
to  those  of  the  numerous  clubs  and  coteries  which 
occupied  the  leisure  and  divided  the  attention  of  the 
gentlemen  of  "  Merrie  England"  in  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury. 

It  will  not  be  an  uninteresting  recommendation  of 
this  little  work,  to  state  that  all  the  books  and  pam- 
phlets, both  for  and  against  the  Order,  and  all  the 
pretended  disclosures  of  our  secrets,  which  were  inces- 
santly puffed  by  our  opponents,  and  purchased  with 
avidity,  and  read  with  eagerness  by  the  vast  multitude 
of  cowans,  who  were  desirous  of  becoming  acquainted 
with  the  mysteries  of  Masonry  without  the  ceremony 
of  initiation,  that  were  published  in  England  during  the 
entire  century,  have  been  noticed.  The  author  is  not 
conscious  of  any  omission.  He  believes  that  no  book  or 
paper,  which  possessed  the  slightest  pretensions  to  pub- 
licity, has  escaped  his  researches. 

With  these  brief  explanations,  the  author  presents  his 
work  to  the  Fraternity,  in  the  hope  that  it  may  not  be 
altogether  unworthy  of  their  acceptance.  It  would 
probably  have  never  seen  the  light,  had  not  a  portion 
of  it,  some  few  years  ago,  appeared  in  the  pages  of  the 
"  Freemasons'  Quarterly  Magazine  and  Review."  And 


PREFACE.  Vll 

it  was  so  generally  approved,  that  many  kind,  and  per- 
haps partial,  friends  expressed  an  anxious  desire  to  see  it 
in  a  perfect  form.  If  it  should  be  found  to  possess  any 
degree  of  interest,  the  author  disclaims  all  share  of  the 
credit,  except  for  performing  the  more  humble  duty  of 
arranging  materials  which  had  been  already  collected, 
and  putting  them  into  a  readable  form.  The  task  was 
simple — its  execution  easy ;  and  if  the  reader  finds  as 
much  pleasure  in  its  perusal  as  the  author  has  had  in  its 
compilation,  he  will  consider  himself  amply  repaid  for 
bis  labour. 

GEO.  OLIVER 


SCOPWICK  VICARAGE. 
December  6,  1854. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 
THE  REVIVAL.  —  DR.  DESAGULIERS.  —  1717-1722  ....  1 

CHAPTER  II. 
ATTACK  AND  DEFENCE.  —  DR.  ANDERSON.—  1722-1740  .     ..!;:• 

CHAPTER  III. 
PROCESSIONS.  —  MARTIN  CLARE,  A.  M.—  1740-1747        ...  ^3 

CHAPTER  IV. 
THE  SCHISM.—  DR.  MANNINGHAM.—  1747-1760     .....    49 

CHAPTER  V. 

TESTS  AND  QUALIFICATIONS.—  ENTICK,  HESLETINB,  CALCOTT, 
HUTCHINSON.—  1760-1769    ...........     64 

CHAPTER  VI. 
IT  RAINS  !—  DUNCKERLEY.  —  1770,  1771   ........    64 

CHAPTER  VH. 
DISCIPLINE.—  DR.  DODD.—  1772-1777     ........    101 


CHAPTER 
DISPUTES.—  WILLIAM  PRESTON.  —  1777-1779  ......    125 

CHAPTER  IX. 
FIRE  !—  CAPTAIN  G.  SMITH.—  1779-1785    .......    146 

CHAPTER  X. 
SECRETS.  —  JOHN  NOORTHOUCK.  —  1785-1790    ......    1C8 

CHAPTER  XI. 
CHARLATANS.—  ARTHUR  TEGART.—  1790-1794    .....    189 

CHAPTER  XII. 
COWANS.—  JOHN  DENT.—  1794-1798  ........         211 


X  CONTENTS. 

PA« 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

BEGGING  MASONS. — STEPHEN  JONES. — 1798-1800  ....    232 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
LEGENDS. — REV.  JETHRO  INWOOD. — 1800-1803 252 

CHAPTER  XV. 
LADY  MASONS. — WILLIAM  MEYRICK,  JOSEPH  SHADBOLT.— 

1803-1810 272 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
THE  SCHISM  HEALED. — DR.  HEMMING. — 1810-1813    ,     .    .    283 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS. 

CURIOUS  FLOOR  CLOTH to  face  pa ge  82 

COMMEMORATION  MEDAL     .         265 

THE  MYSTERIOUS  MIRROR  OP  WISDOM                                ,  311 


THE 

REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE    REVIVAL. DR.  DESAGULIERS. 

1717—1722. 

"I  could  a  tale  unfold." — SHAKESPEARE. 
'•  Dost  feel  a  wish  to  learn  this  thing  of  me  ?" 

TlTANIA. 

**  Hoc  est 
"  Vivere  bis,  vita  posse  priore  frui." — MARTIAL. 

A  FRIEND  and  Brother,  who  resides  in  town,  knowing 
that  I  am  somewhat  of  a  dabbler  in  antiquities,  forwarded 
to  me,  some  time  ago,  an  old  SILVER  SQUARE,  which  he 
told  me  had  the  reputation  of  having  been  used  in  one 
of  the  earliest  Lodges  after  the  revival  of  Masonry  in 
1717.  Of  course  I  found  it  an  object  of  great  interest, 
and  value  it  accordingly.  Although  a  good  deal  batter- 
ed, the  inscription  is  still  distinctly  visible.  On  one  limb 
of  its  upper  face  is  the  following  legend — 

KEEPE  WITHIN  COMPASSE  ; 
and  on  the  other — 

A\DTE  ON  YE  SQUARE. 

At  the  angle  of  junction  is  a  rude  heart  with  the  letter  J 
on  it.  The  reverse  is  blank,  with  the  exception  of  two 
small  old  English  capitals  C  Ul.  at  the  angle. 

The  jewel  is  soon  described  ;  but  how  am  I  to  pour- 
tray  my  feelings,  when,  with  the  instrument  lying  on  the 
table  before  me,  I  called  up  the  spirits  of  the  dead,  and 
contemplated  scenes  of  bygone  times — the  working  of 
Lodges — the  solemn  Labours  and  convivial  Refreshments 


2  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

which  this  small  token  had  witnessed — the  racy  jest  and 
sparkling  wit  which  set  the  table  on  a  roar,  after  the 
hours  of  business  were  past.  This  was  the  age  when  the 
facetious  Doctor  Sheridan  reduced  punning  to  a  system, 
arid  it  was  practised  by  rule  and  compass  :  and,  therefore, 
we  may  readily  believe  that  the  Lodges  had  their  share 
of  it.  "0!"  I  exclaimed  aloud,  "  if  this  square  could 
speak,  what  interesting  scenes  it  might  reveal,  and  how 
it  would  enlighten  us  about  the  doings  of  Freemasonry 
at  the  time  of  its  revival !" 

I  had  been  sitting  late  one  evening  in  contemplation  of 
the  scenes  which  took  place  in  the  palmy  days  of  Mason- 
ry, when  Desaguliers,  Payne,  Anderson,  Lamb.aH,  Mor- 
rice,  Timson,  and  their  ^compeers  were  at  the  helm  of 
affairs.  A  dull  and  dreamy  sensation  came  over  me,  and  I 
saw,  or  fancied  I  saw,  the  Square,  which  had  just  been  re- 
posing motionless  before  me,  raise  itself  up,  with  great 
solemnity,  on  the  exterior  points  of  its  two  limbs,  which 
seemed  to  assume  the  form  of  legs.  Body  it  had  none, 
but  the  heart,  which  was  delineated  at  the  angle,  put 
forth  two  eyes,  a  snub  nose,  and  a  mouth — a  sort  of  am- 
plification of  the  letter  J.  I  could  trace  the  features 
distinctly,  as  we  see  the  figure  of  a  human  face  in  the 
tire  on  a  winter's  night. 

While  I  was  considering  what  all  this  could  mean,  I 
heard  a  small  thin  voice  pronounce  my  name.  To  say  I 
was  merely  surprised  at  this  unexpected  phenomenon, 
would  be  too  tame  an  expression — I  was  utterly  aston- 
ished and  confounded.  I  rubbed  my  eyes  and  looked 
round  the  room.  Everything  appeared  exactly  as  usual 
— no  change  could  I  perceive ;  the  fire  burned  brightly  ; 
the  books  covered  the  walls ;  the  candles  cast  their 
usual  light ;  and  the  ticking  of  the  spring  clock  over 
my  head  preserved  its  usual  monotony.  I  began  to  fancy 
I  had  been  mistaken,  when  my  name  was  again  uttered 
by  the  same  unearthly  voice,  and  there  stood  the  little 
fellow,  as  if  determined  to  indulge  in  some  demoniacal 
soliloquy  to  which  I  was  constrained  to  listen.  At 
length  it  communicated  its  intention  by  saying — '•  Attend 
to  me,  and  I  will  realize  all  your  wishes,  by  enlightening 
you  on  the  subject  of  your  meditations,  and  giving  you 
the  benefit  of  my  experience ;  but  first  let  me  caution 
you  not  to  utter  a  single  syllable,  for  if  you  do  the  charm 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  3 

will  be  broken ;  the  sound  of  the  human  voice  silences 
me  for  ever. 

"  I  was  originally  the  property  of  a  Brother  whose 
extensive  genius  has  invested  his  name  with  immortality 
— Sir  Christopher  Wren,  Grand  Master  of  Masonry  at  the 
latter  end  of  the  seventeenth  century,  which  fell  into 
desuetude  -when  King  George  I.  had  the  impolicy  to 
supersede  this  great  man  in  favour  of  Bro.  W.  Benson, 
and  so  disgusted  him  with  the  world,  that  he  declined 
all  public  assemblies,  and  amongst  the  rest,  relinquished 
his  connection  with  Freemasonry.  The  Craft  refused  to 
meet,  or  hold  any  communication  with  the  new  Grand 
Master,  and  Masonry  languished  for  several  years,  till  it 
was  supposed  to  be  extinct ;  and  Dr.  Plot  exulted  in  the 
idea  that  he  had  given  it  its  death-blow  by  some  ill- 
natured  animadversions  in  the  History  of  Staffordshire.1 

"In  the  year  1712,  a  person  of  the  name  of  Simeon 
Townsend  published  a  pamphlet,  which  he  entitled, 
1  Observations  and  Enquiries  relating  to  the  brotherhood 
of  the  Freemasons  ;'  and  a  few  others  had  been  issued  on 
the  decline  of  the  Order,  as  if  triumphing  in  its  fall.2 
About  this  time,  Dr.  Desaguliers,  a  Fellow  of  the  Eoyal 
Society,  and  Professor  of  Philosophy,  was  gradually  rising 
into  eminence.  In  the  course  of  his  scientific  researches, 
the  above  works  fell  into  his  hands.  He  did  not  find 

1  "  The  Natural  History  of  Staffordshire,"  by  Kobert  Plot,  Oxford, 
1686.     In  this  attack  on  the  Order,  the  Doctor  says,  very  illogically, 
that  "  one  of  their  articles  is  to  support  a  Brother  till  work  can  be 
had;"  and  another  is  "  to  advise  the  Masters  they  work  for,  accord- 
ing to  the  best  of  their  skill,  acquainting  them  with  the  goodness  or 
badness  of  the  material,   &c.,  that  Masonry  be  not  dishonoured;  and 
many  such  like."     He  then  concludes  by  saying,  that  "  some  others 
they  have  that  none  know  but  themselves,   which  I  have  reason  to 
suspect  are  much  worse  than  these  ;  perhaps  as  bad  as  the  history  of 
the   Craft  itself,   than  which  there  is  nothing  I  ever  met  with  more 
false  or  incoherent."     See  the  entire  argument  in  the  Gold.  Hem., 
Tol.  iii.,  p.  37.. 

2  These  were — "A  short  Analysis  of  the  Unchanged  Rites   and 
Ceremonies  of  Freemasons  :"  London,  Stephen  Dilly,  1676.     "  The 
Paradoxal  Discourses  of  Franc.  Mercur  van  Helmont,  concerning  the 
Macrocosm  and  Microcosm,  or  the  Greater  and  Lesser  World,  and 
their  Union;  set  down  in   Writing  by  J.  B.,  and  now  published:" 
London,  Freeman1,- 1685.    "  A  Short  Charge,"  O.D.A.A.M.F.M.R.O. : 
1694.     "  The  Secret  History  of  Clubs,  particularly  of  the  Golden 
Fleece ;  with  their  Original,  and  the  Characters  of  the  most  noted 
Members  thereof."     London,  1709. 


4  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

them  very  complimentary  to  the  Fraternity,  but  they 
excited  his  curiosity,  and  he  was  made  a  Mason  in  the 
old  Lodge  at  the  Goose  and  Gridiron  in  St.  Paul's 
Churchyard,  and  subsequently  removed  by  him  to  the 
Queen's  Arms  Tavern  in  the  same  locality,  where  the 
Grand  Lodges  were  afterwards  very  frequently  held.3 
The  peculiar  principles  of  the  Craft  struck  him  as  being 
eminently  calculated  to  contribute  to  the  benefit  of  the 
community  at  large,  if  they  could  be  re-directed  into  the 
channel  from  which  they  had  been  diverted  by  the 
retirement  of  Sir  Christopher  Wren.  Dr.  Desaguliers 
paid  a  visit  to  this  veteran  Freemason,  for  the  purpose  of 
consulting  him  on  the  subject.  The  conversation  of  the 
Past  Grand  Master  excited  his  enthusiasm,  for  he  expa- 
tiated with  great  animation  on  the  beauties  of  the  Order 
and  the  unhappy  prostration  which  had  recently  befallen 
it.  From  this  moment,  the  doctor  determined  to  make 
some  efforts  to  revive  Freemasonry,  and  restore  it  to  its 
primitive  importance. 

"  You  may  perhaps  be  inclined  to  inquire,"  said  the 
Square,  very  naively,  "  how  I  became  acquainted  with 
these  facts,  as  I  was  then  quietly  reposing  in  the  drawer 
of  a  cabinet  along  with  Sir  Christopher's  collection  of 
curiosities.  The  truth  is,  that  the  venerable  old  gentle- 
man had  taken  a  liking  to  Dr.  Desaguliers,  and  presented 
me  to  him  with  the  rest  of  his  Masonic  regalia.  From 
henceforth  I  was  privy  to  all  the  doctor's  plans;  and 
as  he  soon  rose  to  the  chair  of  his  Lodge,  I  had  the  advan- 
tage of  hearing  almost  every  conversation  he  had  with 
his  Masonic  friends  on  the  subject  nearest  to  his  heart, 
which  generally  occurred  in  the  Lodge,  with  your 
humble  servant  at  his  breast  suspended  from  a  white 
ribbon.  Every  plan  was  carefully  arranged,  and  the 
details  subjected  to  the  most  critical  supervision  before 
it  was  carried  into  execution;  and  by  this  judicious  pro- 
cess, his  schemes  were  generally  successful.  Thus, 
having  been  in  active  operation  from  a  period  anterior  to 
the  revival  of  Masonry,  I  have  witnessed  many  scenes 
which  it  may  be  both  amusing  and  instructive  to  record, 
as  the  good  may  prove  an  example  worthy  of  imitation, 
and  the  evil,  should  there  be  any,  may  act  as  a  beacon  to 

3  It  is  now  called  the  Lodge  of  Antiquity. 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  5 

warn  the  unwary  Brother  to  avoid  the  quicksands  of 
error  which  will  impede  his  progress  to  Masonic 
perfection. 

"Bro.  Desaguliers  having  intimated  his  intention  of 
renovating  the  Order,  soon  found  himself  supported  by 
a  party  of  active  and  zealous  Brothers,  whose  names 
merit  preservation.  They  were  Sayer,  Payne,  Lamball, 
Elliott,  Gofton,  Cord  well,  De  Noyer,  Vraden,  King, 
Morrice,  Calvert,  Ware,  Lumley,  and  Madden.  These 
included  the  Masters  and  Wardens  of  the  four  existing 
Lodges  at  the  Goose  and  Gridiron,  the  Crown,  the  Apple- 
tree,  and  the  Rummer  and  Grapes ;  and  they  succeeded 
in  forming  themselves  into  a  Grand  Lodge,  and  resumed 
the  quarterly  Communications,  which  had  been  discon- 
tinued for  many  years ;  and  having  thus  replanted  the 
tree,  it  soon  extended  its  stately  branches  to  every  quarter 
of  the  globe. 

"  There  was  no  code  of  laws  in  existence  at  the  period 
to  regulate  the  internal  economy  of  the  Lodges  except  a 
few  brief  By-laws  of  their  own,  which,  in  fact,  were 
little  more  than  a  dead  letter,  for  the  Brethren  acted 
pretty  much  as  their  own  judgment  dictated.  Any 
number  of  Masons,  not  less  than  ten,  that  is  to  say,  the 
Master,  two  Wardens,  and  seven  Fellow  Crafts,  with  the 
consent  of  the  magistrate,  were  empowered  to  meet,  and 
perform  all  the  rites  and  ceremonies  of  Masonry,  with  no 
other  authority  than  the  privilege  which  was  inherent  in 
themselves,  and  had  ever  remained  unquestioned.  They 
assembled  at  their  option,  and  opened  their  Lodges  on 
the  highest  of  hills  or  in  the  lowest  of  valleys,  in  com- 
memoration of  the  same  custom  adopted  by  the  early 
Christians,  who  held  their  private  assemblies  in  similar 
places  during  the  ten  great  persecutions  which  threatened 
to  exterminate  them  from  the  face  of  the  earth. 

"  But  as  this  privilege  led  to  many  irregularities," 
continued  my  companion,  "  and  was  likely  to  afford  a 
pretext  for  unconstitutional  practices,  it  was  resolved 
that  every  Lodge  tt>  be  hereafter  convened,  except  the 
four  old  Lodges  at  thie  time  existing,  should  be  legally 
authorized  to  act  by  a  warrant  from  the  Grand  Master 
for  the  time  being,  granted  to  certain  individuals  on 
petition,  with  the  consent  and  approbation  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  in  Communication ;  and  that  without  such  warrant 


6  ,          THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

no  Lodge  should  be  hereafter  deemed  regular  or  consti- 
tutional. And  a  few  years  later  Bro.  Desaguliers  pro- 
posed in  Grand  Lodge  that  a  code  of  laws  should  be 
drawn  up  for  the  better  government  of  the  Craft. 

Accordingly,  at  the  annual  assembly  on  St.  John's  day, 
1721,  he  produced  thirty-eight  regulations,  which  passed 
without  a  dissentient  voice  in  the  most  numerous  Grand 
Lodge  which  had  yet  been  seen,  conditionally,  that  every 
annual  Grand  Lodge  shall  have  an  inherent  power  and 
authority  to  make  new  regulations,  or  to  alter  these  for 
the  real  benefit  of  this  ancient  Fraternity;  provided 
always  that  the  old  landmarks  be  carefully  preserved,  and  that 
such  alterations  and  new  regulations  be  proposed  and 
agreed  to  at  the  Quarterly  Communication  preceding  the 
annual  Grand  Feast;  and  that  they  be  offered  also  to 
the  perusal  of  all  the  Brethren  before  dinner,  in  writing, 
even  of  the  youngest  apprentice,  the  approbation  and  consent 
of  the  majority  of  all  the  Brethren  present  being  absolute- 
ly necessary  to  make  the  same  binding  and  obligatory 
These  constitutions  were  signed  by  Philip,  Duke  of  Whar- 
ton,  G.M.,  Theophilus  Desaguliers,  M.D.  and  F.R.S.,  the 
Deputy  Grand  Master,  with  the  rest  of  the  Grand  Officers 
and  the  Masters  and  Wardens,  as  well  asxmany  other 
Brethren  then  present,  to  the  number  of  more  than  a 
hundred. 

"  The  convivialities  of  Masonry  were  regulated  by  the 
ancient  Gothic  charges,  which  directed  the  Brethren  to 
enjoy  themselves  with  decent  mirth,  treating  one  another 
according  to  their  ability,  but  avoiding  all  excess,  not 
forcing  any  Brother  to  eat  or  drink  beyond  his  inclina 
tion,  according  to  the  old  regulation  of  King  Ahasuerus— 
not  hindering  him  from  going  home  when  he  pleases, 
&c. :  you  remember  the  charge  ?"4 

I  nodded  acquiescence.  The  Square  took  the  alarm, 
and  hastily  said — "  Do  not  forget  our  compact ;  if  you 
speak,  my  revelations  are  at  an  end.  To  proceed : — 

"  I  can  testify  to  the  convivial  propensities  of  the 
Brethren  of  that  day.  Dermott  did  not  libel  them  when 

4  In  the  year  1755,  the  Earl  of  Caernarvon  being  G.  M.,  it  was  or 
dered  that  no  Brother,  for  the  future,  shall  smoke  tobacco  in  the  Grand 
Lodge,  either  at  the  Quarterly  Communication  or  the  Committee  of 
Charity,  till  the  Lodges  shall  be  closed.     In  private  Lodges  it  was  a 
constant  practice. 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  7 

he  said,  'Some  of  the  young  Brethren  made  it  appear 
that  a  good  knife  and  fork,  in  the  hands  of  a  dexterous 
Brother,  over  proper  materials,  would  sometimes  give 
greater  satisfaction,  and  add  more  to  the  conviviality  of 
the  Lodge,  than  the  best  scale  and  compass  in  Europe.' 

"  Bro.  Desaguliers  was  elevated  to  the  throne  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  in  1719,  and  proclaimed  Grand  Master  on 
the  day  of  St.  John  the  Baptist.  He  effected  great  im- 
provements in  the  Order  during  his  year  of  office ;  and 
yet  all  the  record  which  he  thought  proper  to  make  of  his 
Grand  Mastership  was,  that  « being  duly  installed,  con- 
gratulated, and  homaged,  he  revived  the  old  peculiar 
toasts  or  healths  drank  by  Freemasons;'5  and  it  was  agreed 
that  when  a  new  Grand  Master  is  appointed,  his  health 
shall  be  toasted  as  Grand  Master  elect.  Bro.  Desaguliers 
was  peculiarly  active  in  the  improvement  and  dissemina- 
tion of  Masonry  at  its  revival,  and,  therefore,  merits  the 
respectful  and  affectionate  remembrance  of  the  Frater- 
nity. He  devoted  much  of  his  time  to  promote  its  best 
interests ;  and  being  the  Master  of  several  Lodges,  I  had 
a  fair  quantity  of  experience  in  a  small  space  of  time,  and 
I  can  confidently  affirm,  that  though  the  public  records 
of  Masonry  say  so  little  of  the  acts  of  this  worthy  Brother, 
there  were  many  traits  in  his  character  that  redound  to 
his  immortal  praise.  He  was  a  grave  man  in  private  life, 
almost  approaching  to  austerity ;  but  he  could  relax  in 
the  private  recesses  of  a  Tyled  Lodge,  and  in  company 
with  Brothers  and  Fellows,  where  the  ties  of  social  in- 
tercourse are  not  particularly  stringent.  He  considered 
the  proceedings  of  the  Lodge  as  strictly  confidential,  and 
being  persuaded  that  his  Brothers  by  initiation  actually 
occupied  the  same  position  as  Brothers  by  blood,  he  was 
undisguisedly  free  and  familiar  in  the  mutual  interchange 
of  unrestrained  courtesy.  In  the  Lodge,  he  was  jocose 
and  free  hearted,  sang  his  song,  and  had  no  objection  to 
his  share  of  the  bottle,  although  one  of  the  most  learned 
and  distinguished  men  of  his  day.  He  delivered  public 
lectures  on  experimental  philosophy,  an  unusual  practice 
for  a  dignified  clergyman  in  those  days,  and  showed  him 
to  be  many  years  in  advance  of  the  intelligerce  of  the 
age  when  he  nourished. 

"  Our  business,  however,  is  with  Dr.  Desaguliers,  aa 

5  Anderson's  "Constitutions,"  ed.  1838,  p.  110. 


8  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

the  chief  agent  in  the  revival  of  the  ancient  and  honour- 
able Institution  of  Freemasonry.  He  brought  his  private 
Lodges  into  such  repute,  and  particularly  that  holden  at 
the  Goose  and  Gridiron,  that  it  was  placed  at  the  head 
of  the  list  of  Lodges  ;  and  a  law  was  unanimously  agreed 
to,  that  the  Grand  Master  should  be  proposed  and  elected 
there,  before  he  became  eligible  for  the  appointment  01 
the  Grand  Lodge.  It  was  supposed  at  the  time  that  he 
was  the  author  of  that  famous  paper  which  so  thoroughly 
refuted  the  absurd  allegations  of  Dr.  Plot  against  the 
Order.6  It  is  true  I  heard  it  applied  to  him  several  times, 
but  he  uniformly  disavowed  it,  although  it  was  generally 
believed  that  there  was  no  other  living  Mason  who  could 
have  done  it  so  well. 

"As  a  proof  of  his  attention  to  discipline  and  propriety 
of  conduct,  I  give  you  an  anecdote.  On  a  certain  occa- 
sion, which  I  perfectly  remember,  I  witnessed  the  initia- 
tion of  a  noble  lord,  which  was  performed  with  great 
solemnity  by  Dr.  Desaguliers ;  and  his  lordship,  though 
only  a  youth,  appeared  very  much  impressed  with  the 
ceremonial.  But  when  the  refreshment  was  introduced, 
and  the  severity  of  discipline  somewhat  relaxed,  his  lord- 
ship, according  to  a  habit  then  very  much  in  vogue,  oc- 
casionally intermingled  his  conversation  with  an  oath. 
This  passed  at  first  without  notice,  as  the  vice  of  swear- 
ing was  common  both  to  peer  and  peasant.  Now  you 
are  aware,  I  dare  say,  that  the  opening  formula  in  those 
days  was,  '  forbidding  all  cursing,  swearing  and  whisper- 
ing, all  religious  and  political  disputes,  together  with  all 
irreligious  and  profane  conversation,  under  no  less  penalty 
than  what  the  by-laws  shall  prescribe,  or  a  majority  of 
the  Brethren  shall  think  proper  to  impose.'  Profanity, 
therefore,  was  a  violation  of  Lodge  rules,  although  they 
were  not  remarkable  at  that  period  for  their  stringency ; 
but  the  frequent  repetition  of  the  interdicted  words, 
created  an  unfavourable  sensation,  which  was  not  much 
to  his  lordship's  credit.  Bro.  Desaguliers  said  nothing, 
how  much  soever  he  might  be  disgusted.  At  length  his 
lordship  appealed  to  the  chair  for  the  confirmation  of 
some  opinion. 

"  '  I  say,  doctor, — d — me,  don't  you  hear, — I  ask  your 

6  "A  Detection  of  Dr.  Plot's  Account  of  the  Freemasons." — See 
44  The  Golden  Remains,"  vol.  iii.,  p.  31. 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  9 

pardon  for  swearing !'  After  this  had  occurred  more  than 
once,  Bro.  Desaguliers  rose  from  his  chair  with  a  dignity 
which  he  well  knew  how  to  assume  when  circumstances 
called  for  it,  and  said, — 

"  *  My  lord,  you  have  repeatedly  violated  the  rules  of 
the  Lodge  by  your  unmeaning  oaths  ;  and  more  than  this, 
you  have  taken  some  pains  to  associate  me  personally 
with  your  profanity,  by  your  frequent  appeals  to  the 
chair.  Now,  my  lord,  I  assure  you,  in  answer  to  those 
appeals,  that  if  God  Almighty  does  not  hear  you,  I  will 
not  tell  him !' 

"  The  peer  was  silenced,  the  Brethren  pleased,  and  I 
must  say  I  was  proud  of  the  Master.  Another  time  he 
said  to  a  person  of  equal  rank,  who  was  an  adept  in  the 
reigning  vice,  'My  lord,  if  you  thought  you  were  honour- 
ing God,  you  would  not  swear  so  furiously.'7 

I  assure  you,  sir,  that  Masonry,  as  then  practised,  was 
a  fascinating  pursuit,  although  its  technicalities  were 
somewhat  different  from  those  of  more  modern  times. 
For  instance,  what  you  call  the  Great  Lights  were  de- 
nominated Furniture  with  us ;  the  three  moveable  Lights 
were  explained  to  mean  the  same  as  your  three  lesser  ones, 
and  were,  indeed,  the  same  in  every  particular;  and  we 
had  three  fixed  Lights,  or  imaginary  windows  in  the  east, 

7  Do  not  let  me  incur  the  imputation  of  libelling  the  manners  of  the 
eighteenth  century  by  the  above  anecdotes,  for  they  are  strictly  true. 
Swearing  was  the  besetting  vice  of  the  age ;  and  Swift  observes  :  "I 
cannot  recollect,  in  this  maturity  of  my  age,  how  great  a  variety  of 
oaths  I  have  heard  .since  I  began  to  study  the  world,  and  to  know  men 
and  manners. 

"  For  nowadays  men  change  their  oaths 
As  often  as  they  change  their  clothes." 

And  he  gives  a  case  in  point.  "I  remember  an  officer  who  had  re- 
turned from  Flanders,  sitting  in  a  coffee-house  near  two  gentlemen, 
whereof  one  was  of  the  clergy,  who  were  engaged  in  some  discourse 
that  savoured  of  learning.  This  officer  thought  fit  to  interpose ;  and 
professing  to  deliver  the  sentiments  of  his  fraternity  as  well  as  his 
own,  turned  to  the  clergyman,  and  spoke  in  the  following  manner: — 
'  D — n  me,  doctor,  say  what  you  will,  the  army  is  the  only  school  for 
gentlemen.  Do  you  think  my  Lord  Marlbrough  beat  the  French 
with  Greek  and  Latin  ?  D — n  me,  a  scholar,  when  he  comes  into 
good  company,  what  is  he  but  an  ass  ?  D — n  me,  I  would  be  glad, 
by  G- — ,  to  see  any  of  your  scholars,  with  his  nouns  and  his  verbs, 
and  his  philosophy  and  trigonometry,  what  a  figure  he  would  make 
at  a  siege,  or  a  blockade,  d — n  me  !'  " 


10  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

west,  and  south,  which  are  now,  I  believe,  discarded. 
Again,  Wisdom,  Strength,  and  Beauty,  according  to 
ancient  usages,  were  represented,  not  as  at  present  by 
three  pillars  or  orders  of  architecture,  but  by  the  two 
pillars  of  Solomon's  Porch,  and  the  Blazing  Star,  the 
left-hand  pillar  being  the  symbol  of  Wisdom,  that  on  the 
right  hand  Strength,  and  the  Blazing  Star  in  the  centre, 
Beauty. 

"  The  discipline  of  Masonry  was  always,  as  far  as  I 
could  learn,  essentially  democratic,  and  the  revivalists 
took  especial  care  to  make  no  innovations  in  the  original 
plan.  All  power  was  committed  to  the  members  of 
Lodges;  and  even,  as  we  have  just  seen,  the  newly 
initiated  entered  apprentices  had  a  vote  in  Grand  Lodge. 
In  the  popular  government  of  Athens,  it  was  an  unalter- 
able law,  that  all  the  citizens  in  turn  should  be  distributed 
in  the  courts  of  justice  ;  and  on  the  same  principle  the 
Brethren  of  each  Lodge  choose  their  Master  by  ballot, 
who  appoints  his  officers  from  amongst  themselves,  and 
these  are  its  representatives  in  the  General  Assembly  or 
Grand  Lodge.  And,  as  in  all  the  democratic  institutions 
of  antiquity,  a  senate  was  appointed  to  prepare  all  motions 
and  proposals  before  they  were  submitted  to  the  decision 
of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  people^  so  we  have  com- 
mittees nominated  for  the  same  purpose. 

The  Chief  Governor  of  the  Craft  is  annually  elected 
by  the  delegates  from  the  Lodges  ;  and  in  imitation  of  the 
practice  at  Thurium,  the  office  was  scarcely  ever  con- 
ferred twice  on  the  same  person,  because  if  such  a  prac- 
tice had  been  admitted,  it  was  thought  that  other  persons 
of  equal  worth  would  be  thus  excluded  from  an  honour 
which  ought  to  be  equally  accessible  to  all. 

"  The  general  laws  of  Masonry,  however,  were  but 
loosely  administered.  It  was  provided  '  that  no  Brother 
should  belong  to  more  than  one  Lodge  within  the  bills  of 
mortality ;'  but  little  notice  .was  taken  of  that  absurd 
law,  for  it  was  violated  with  impunity  by  D.  G.  Masters 
Desaguliers  and  Martin  Clare,  and  many  others.  And, 
again,  instances  occasionally  occurred  where  a  Grand 
Master  continued  in  office  for  more  than  a  year ;  but  the 
Society  generally  suffered  by  substituting  the  exception 
for  the  rule,  as  in  the  case  of  Lord  Byron,  who  was  Grand 
Master  from  1747  to  1752,  and  never  attended  a  Grand 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         11 

Lodge  between  those  periods,  which  caused  Masonry  tc 
languish  for  want  of  an  active  and  attentive  patron. 

"Again,  with  reference  to  private  Lodges;  no  candidate 
could  be  admitted  as  a  Mason,  nor  could  any  one  become 
a  member  without  the  scrutiny  of  the  ballot  box ;  and  so 
imperative  were  the  laws  respecting  secret  votes,  that  it 
was  provided  '  that  when  any  Brother  is  proposed  to  be- 
come a  member,  and  any  person  to  be  made  a  Mason,  if 
it  appears,  upon  casting  up  the  ballot,  that  they  are  re- 
jected, no  member  or  visiting  Brother  shall  discover,  by 
any  means  whatever,  who  those  members  were  that 
opposed  his  election,  under  the  penalty  of  such  Brothers 
being  forever  expelled  the  Lodge  (if  members),  and  if  a 
visiting  Brother,  of  his  being  never  more  admitted  as  a 
visitor,  or  becoming  a  member ;  and,  immediately  after  a 
negative  passes  on  any  person  being  proposed,  the  Mas- 
ter shall  cause  this  law  to  be  read,  that  no  Brother  may 
plead  ignorance. 

"After  all — I  speak  from  experience,'5  the  Square  con- 
tinued,— "  the  real  exercise  of  power  was  generally  in  the 
hands  of  a  few  individuals,  and  sometimes  of  a  single 
person,  who,  by  his  influence,  was  able  to  dispose  of  every 
motion  at  pleasure.  This  superiority  was  exercised  in 
succession,  during  the  eighteenth  •  century,  by  Brothers 
Desaguliers,  Manningham,  Dunckerley,  Hesletine,  and 
White. 

"  In  these  happy  times — they  were  times  of  real  enjoy- 
ment— labour  was  conducted  with  great  seriousness ;  and 
perhaps  you  will  be  surprised,  when  I  tell  you — and  if 
you  are  not,  there  are  those  in  this  latitudinarian  age  who 
will — that  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  according  to  the 
rites  and  ceremonies  of  the  Church  of  England,  was  an 
established  Lodge  book,  as  it  was  considered  to  contain 
all  the  moral  principles  of  the  Order.  And,  in  the  ex- 
aminations,8 Brothers  Desaguliers,  Anderson,  and  Payne, 


8  In  these  early  times  there  were  no  Lodge  Lectures,  (so  called), 
but  their  places  were  supplied  by  "  Examinations"  of  the  same  nature 
and  tendency,  but  infinitely  more  brief  and  technical.  I  subjoin  a  few 
of  these  examination  questions  from  the  oldest  formula  in  my  posses* 
sion,  which  I  have  reason  to  believe  was  used  during  the  G-.  Master- 
ship of  Archbishop  Chichely,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VL  "  Peace  be 
here." — A.  1  hope  there  is.  Q.  What  o'clock  is  it  ? — A.  It  is  going 
to  six,  or  going  to  twelve.  Q.  Are  you  very  busy  ? — A.  No.  Q. 


12         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

placed  the  following  passages  as  unalterable  landmarks 
to  designate  the  religious  character  of  the  Order. 

"  l  Why  due  east  and  west  ? 

"  '  Because  all  Christian  churches  and  chapels  are,  or 
ought  to  be  so. 

"  'What  does denote? 

"  'The  Grand  Architect  of  the  Universe,  or  Him  that 
was  taken  up  to  the  topmost  pinnacle  of  the  Holy  Tem- 
ple/ 

"  During  this  period  the  Fraternity  had  signs,  symbols 
and  tokens  of  recognition,  which  are  become  obsolete, 
and  I  question  whether  your  brightest  Masons  know  that 
they  were  ever  in  existence.  But,  as  the  principal  ob- 
ject of  my  Revelations  is  to  make  you  acquainted  with 
the  sayings  and  doings  of  the  Fraternity  in  the  eighteenth 
century,  I  will  reproduce  a  few  of  their  peculiarities  for 
your  delectation.  For  instance  :  the  symbols  of  the  four 
Cardinal  Virtues  were  delineated  by  an  acute  angle, 
variously  disposed.  Supposing  you  face  the  east,  the 
angle  symbolizing  Temperance  will  point  to  the  south 
(>).  It  was  called  a  Guttural.  Fortitude  was  denoted 
by  a  sal  tire  or  St.  Andrew's  Cross  (  x).  This  was  the 
Pectoral.  The  symbol  of  Prudence  was  an  acute  angle, 
pointing  towards  the  south-east  (7),  and  was  denominated 
a  Manual ;  and  Justice  had  its  angle  towards  the  north 
(<),  and  was  called  a  Pedestal  or  Pedal. 

"  Many  of  our  tokens  of  recognition,  under  the  presi- 
dency of  Sir  Christopher  Wren,"  said  the  Square,  "were 
curious  and  significant ;  but  they  were  discontinued  about 
the  middle  of  the  century,  and  are  now,  I  believe,  entire- 
ly forgotten.  As  they  are  excluded  from  the  present 
system  of  Masonry,  there  will  be  no  impropriety  in 
enumerating  them.  They  were  ten  in  number.  1.  Ask 
how  do  you  do.  The  Brothers  present  drink  to  each 
other.  2.  Inquire  in  what  Lodge  they  were  initiated.  3. 

Will  you  give  or  take  ? — A.  Both ;  or  which  you  please.  Q.  How 
go  Squares  ? — A.  Straight.  Q.  Are  you  rich  or  poor  ? — A.  Neither. 
Q.  Change  me  that  ? — A.  I  will.  Q.  lu  the  name  of  the  King  and 
Holy  Church,  are  you  a  Mason  ? — A.  I  am  so  taken  to  be.  Q.  What 
is  a  Mason  ? — A.  A  man  begot  by  a  man,  born  of  a  woman,  brother 
to  a  King.  Q.  What  is  a  fellow  ? — A.  A  companion  of  a  Prince.  Q. 
How  shall  I  know  you  are  a  Freemason  ? — A.  By  signs,  tokens,  and 
points  of  my  entry,  &c.,  &c. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          13 

Take  up  a  stone  and  ask  what  it  smells  of.  4.  By  making 
a  square  with  the  feet.  5.  Strike  with  the  right  hand 
the  inside  of  the  fourth  finger  of  the  left  thrice.  6. 
Stroke  the  two  first  fingers  of  the  right  hand  thrice  over 
the  eyelids.  7.  Take  off  your  hat  with  two  fingers  and 
thumb.  8.  Turn  your  glass  downwards  after  drinking. 
9.  In  shaking  hands,  touch  the  wrist  three  times  with 
the  forefinger.  10.  Whisper — the  Masters  and  Fellows 
of  the  Worshipful  company  greet  you  well. 

"  Kefreshment  was  a  genuine  feast  of  reason  and  flow 
of  soul.  Punning,  however  it  may  be  condemned  and 
sneered  at  by  the  fastidious  scholar  of  the  nineteenth 
century,  as  being  a  worthless  and  contemptible  pursuit, 
was  extensively  practised  according  to  the  category  laid 
down  by  Swift  and  Sheridan;  and  many  a  witticism  have 
I  heard  uttered,  which  created  the  most  uproarious 
mirth ;  for  loud  laughter  was  not  inconsistent  with  the 
manners  of  an  age  when  high  jinks,  in  a  sister  country, 
possessed  attractions  which  led,  as  Sir  Walter  Scott  ex- 
presses it,  '  the  best  educated  and  gravest  men  in  Scot- 
land gradually  on,  from  wisdom  to  mirth,  and  from  mirth 
to  extravagance.' 

"One  evening,  as  these  choice  spirits  sat  around  the 
table  after  supper — and  suppers,  I  must  tell  you,  in  those 
halcyon  days,  generally  terminated  the  business  of  the 
Lodge, — Brothers  Lamball,  Sorell,  Beloe,  Ware,  Madden, 
Villeneau,  Noyes,  Cordwell,  Salt,  Gofton,  Senex,  Hobby, 
Mountain,  and  a  few  others  being  present  with  the  W. 
M.,  all  celebrated  Masons,  whose  names  are  well  known 
to  the  Craft,  Brother  Lamball,  who  was  an  incorrigible 
liaugher,  and  that  in  no  very  mild  tone  of  voice,  being 
tickled  by  some  witty  remark,  indulged  his  propensity 
in  a  regular  horse-laugh.  Brother  Madden  rose  with 
much  gravity,  and  addressing  the  chair,  said, — 

"  '  K.  W.  Sir,  did  you  ever  hear  a  peaceful  lamb  bawl 
(Lamball)  so  vociferously  ?' 

"  'No,'  said  Bro.  Desaguliers,  'but  I've  heard  a  matfun 
(Madden)  make  an  ugly  noise  (Noyes).' 

"  'Oh,'  rejoinded  Bro.  Sorell,  'let  him  ride  his  hobby 
(Hobby)  quietly,  his  lungs  will  be  no  worse  for  wear 
(Ware).' 

"  'Ah,'  Bro.  Ware  snctpped  in, '  particularly  if  the  colour 
of  his  hobby  be  sorrel  (Sorell).  Ha!  ha!  ha!' 


14         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

"  '  The  lamb  had  better  go  to  sea  next  (Senex)  and  then 
he  may  bellow  (Beloe)  against  the  roaring  of  the  salt  (Salt) 
waves  as  they  dash  upon  the  mountain  (Mountain),'  shout- 
ed Bro.  Hobby. 

"  'Well,'  replied  Bro.  Lamball,  «I  shall  never  quarrel 
with  any  Brother  who  holds  the  cord  well  (Cordwell-*- 
cable  tow)  for  this  or  anything  else,  provided  he  does  not 
call  me  &  villain  O  (Villeneau).  Ha!  ha!  ha!' 

"  '  I  shall  not,  Brothers  and  Fellows,'  responded  Bro. 
Villeneau,  *  question  your  good  faith,  although  you  carry 
on  so  briskly  a  Pun — ic  war.' 

"  'A  truce  to  your  wit,'  Bro.  Madden  interposed.  'I 
thirst  to  mend  my  simile." 

"  'Nay,'  said  the  W.  Master,  'if  Bro.  Madden  thirsts, 
why  there's  an  end  of  it.' 

"  '  Oh,  ho!'  echoed  Bro.  Noyes,  'if  a  pun  is  meant,  I 
move  that  we  inflict  the  usual  punishment.'1 

"  'Why,  then,'  says  the  chair,  "we  will  replenish  the 
glasses,  and  try  to  quench  Bro.  Madden's  thirst  with  a 
toast: 

"  Now,  all  this  may  appear  very  puerile  to  you,  sir, 
but  I  assure  you  it  is  a  correct  sample  of  the  wit  of  the 
age,  and  formed  the  staple  commodity  of  a  lively  conver- 
sation at  taverns  and  clubs,  which  were  then  the  resort 
of  the  highest  nobility  and  gentry  in  the  land." 


CHAPTER  II. 

ATTACK  AND  DEFENCE. DR.  ANDERSON. 

1722—1740. 


"  The  end  and  moral  purport  of  Masonry  is  to  subdue  our  passions  , 
not  to  do  our  own  will ;  to  make  a  daily  progress  in  a  laudable  art ; 
to  promote  morality,  charity,  good  fellowship,  good  nature  and  humani- 
ty '' — ANDERSON. 

.  ".She  is  the  brightness  of  the  everlasting  LIGHT,  the  unspotted 
Mirror  of  the  power  of  God,  and  the  Image  of  his  Goodness." — 
SOLOMON. 

"  In  vain  would  Danvers  with  his  wit 

Our  slow  resentment  raise ; 
What  he  and  all  mankind  have  writ, 

But  celebrates  our  praise. 
His  wit  this  only  truth  imparts, 
That  Masons  have  firm  faithful  hearts." 

SECRETARY'S  SONG. 


THE  success  that  attended  the  re-establishment  of 
Masonry,"  my  strange  companion  continued,  "  created  a 
very  great  sensation,  and  raised  up  a  host  of  opponents, 
wno  either  envied  the  popularity  of  the  Fraternity,  or 
were  desirous  of  diverting  it  into  some  other  channel ;  for 
the  uninitiated  were  piqued  at  the  respect  and  attention 
which  it  attracted  so  universally ;  and  more  particularly 
when  the  nobility  began  to  interest  themselves  in  its  pro- 
mulgation. Many  were  the  consultations  which  were 
held  in  the  Lodge  on  this  subject.  Dr.  Anderson,  Grand 
Warden  in  1723,  had  now  become  an  active  colleague  of 
Grand  Master  Payne  and  Dr.  Desaguliers,  who  held  the 
office  of  Deputy  Grand  Master,  and  was  installed  into  the 
chair  of  Hiram  Abifi'in  the  same  year ;  and  with  the  as- 
sistance of  other  eminent  Craftsmen,  it  was  formally 
deliberated  which  of  three  proceedings  it  would  be  most 
expedient  to  adopt  in  this  emergency.  Brothers  Lam- 
ball,  Noyes,  and  Villeneau  were  of  opinion  that  the  most 
dignified  method  of  treating  the  absard  publications  of 
those  cowans  who  distributed  their  anonymous  effusions 
2 


16          THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

through  the  country,  would  be  by  silent  contempt ; 
others  proposed  ridicule  as  the  most  efficient  weapon ; 
while  Brothers  Desaguliers  and  Anderson  thought  that 
the  interests  of  Masonry  would  be  more  effectually  served 
by  some  public  and  authorised  statement  of  their  pro- 
ceedings,— by  an  avowal  of  the  real  objects  of  the  Insti- 
tution, and  an  explanation  of  the  principles  on  which  it 
is  founded.  And  this  course  was  finally  agreed  on. 

"  Accordingly,  these  two  learned  Brothers  entered  on 
the  work  with  great  zeal  and  assiduity.  Bro.  Desagu- 
liers, in  1721,  made  a  public  profession  of  a  Mason's  faith, 
in  an  Oration,  which  was  printed  and  distributed  plenti- 
fully both  in  the  metropolis  and  provinces  ;l  in  which  he 
enlarged  on  the  re-organization  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  and 
stated  seriatim  the  peculiar  benefits,  both  moral  and  in- 
tellectual, which  may  be  derived  from  a  regular  attendance 
on  the  duties  of  a  Lodge.  And  Bro.  Anderson  published 
a  well-written  pamphlet  on  the  rise  and  progress  of  the 
Order,  and  its  application  to  the  practical  sciences.2 

"  In  the  same  year,  September  2nd,  the  Duke  of  Mon- 
tague being  Grand  Master,  and  Bros.  Villeneau  and  Mor- 
rice  Grand  Wardens,  a  Grand  Lodge  was  holden  at  the 
King's  Arms  Tavern,  St.  Paul's  Churchyard,  at  wThich 
Bros.  Desaguliers,  Payne,  and  Anderson,  were  ordered  to 
examine  the  old  Gothic  Constitutions,  and  to  digest  the 
same  in  a  new  and  better  method ;  and  at  the  succeeding 
Grand  Lodge,  in  December,  a  committee  of  fourteen  ex- 
pert Brethren  was  appointed  to  revise  the  manuscript 
when  completed,  and  to  make  their  report  accordingly. 
In  pursuance  of  this  order,  our  worthy  Bros.  Desaguliers, 
Payne,  and  Anderson,  commenced  their  proceedings  by 
searching  for  manuscripts  and  authorities  in  every  part 
of  the  kingdom  where  they  were  supposed  to  exist.  They 

1  An  eloquent  Oration  about  Masons  and  Masonry.  Delivered  24th 
January,  1721. 

'2  "  On  the  Rise  and  Progress  of  Freemasonry."  The  Rev.  James 
Anderson,  D.  D.,  was  minister  of  the  Scots  Presbyterian  Church,  in 
Swallow-street,  Piccadilly,  and  well  known  in  those  days  amongst  the 
people  of  that  persuasion,  resident  in  London,  by  the  name  of  Bishop 
Anderson.  He  was  editor  of  the  "Diplomata  Scotiae,  and  Royal 
Genealogies  ;"  a  learned  man,  who  unfortunately  lost  a  considerable 
"  part  of  his  property  in  the  South  Sea  bubble  of  1720.  He  had  issue 
a  son  and  a  daughter,  the  latter  of  whom  married  an  officer  in  the 
army.' 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          17 

communicated  with  many  Lodges  under  the  Constitutions 
both  of  York  and  London,  and  in  most  cases  were  suc- 
cessful in  the  search ;  yet  a  few  instances  unfortunately 
occurred  where  certain  fastidious  Brethren  took  the  alarm, 
and  committed  many  valuable  manuscripts  to  the  flames 
concerning  ancient  usages,  regulations  of  Lodges,  Charges, 
and  secrets, — particularly  one  written  by  Nicholas  Stone, 
who  was  Grand  Warden  to  Inigo  Jones, — lest  they  should 
fall  into  the  hands  of  our  friends,  and  be  submitted  to 
public  inspection  in  a  printed  form. 

"At  one  of  our  Lodges,  when  this  design  was  in  pro- 
gress, Bro.  Payne  expressed  his  indignation  at  the  super- 
lative folly  of  those  misguided  Brothers  in  no  measured 
language;  and  it  was  seriously  debated  whether  it  would 
not  be  expedient,  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  a  repeti- 
tion of  the  offence,  to  move  a  vote  of  censure  against 
them  in  the  ensuing  Grand  Lodge  for  contempt.  This 
was  decided  in  the  negative,  as  it  was  considered  to  be 
inquisitorial,  and  alien  to  the  general  design  of  Masonry, 
for  the  Grand  Lodge  to  interfere  with  the  disposal  of 
private  property. 

"  It  was  agreed,  however,  at  the  same  Lodge,  that  the 
H.  W.  Master,  Dr.  Desaguliers,  should  move  '  that  the 
ancient  office  of  Stewards  be  revived  to  assist  the  Grand 
Wardens  in  preparing  for  the  feast,  and  in  other  things 
appertaining  to  the  annual  general  assembly  of  Masons. 
Bro.  Desaguliers  accordingly  proposed  the  appointment 
of  twelve  Brethren  for  those  purposes ;  and  the  motion 
was  unanimously  agreed  to.  At  the  same  Grand  Lodge 
it  was  reported  by  the  committee  that  they  had  "perused 
Bro.  Anderson's  manuscript  containing  the  History  of 
Masons,  the  Charges,  Eegulations,  and  Masters'  Song; 
and,  after  some  amendments,  had  approved  of  it.  In 
conse.quence  of  this  favourable  report,  the  Brethren  re- 
quested the  Grand  Master  to  order  it  to  be  published; 
arid  its  appearance  produced  a  wonderful  impression  on 
the  public  mind,  and  insured  the  triumph  of  the  Craft.3 

""At  a  Grand  Lodge  in  the  same  year,  the  Duke  of 
Buccleugh,  G.  M.,  seconded  by  Dr.  Desaguliers,  pro- 

9uThe  Constitutions  of  Freemasonry;  containing  the  History, 
Charges,  ^Regulations,  &c.,  of  that  most  Ancient  and  Eight  Worship- 
ful Fraternity.  For  the  Use  of  the  Lodges:"  London,  printed  by 
Will.  Hunter,  for  John  Senex  and  John  Hooke,  1723. 


18          THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

posed  a  scheme  for  raising  a  fund  for  the  relief  of  distressed 
Brethren,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  on  the  spot  to 
consider  what  would  be  the  most  effectual  means  of 
carrying  it  into  execution.  This  was  the  origin  of  the 
Fund  of  Benevolence,  for  which  the  Fraternity  are 
indebted  to  the  amiable  disposition,  coupled  with  the 
indefatigable  exertions  of  Brother  Desaguliers ;  and  the 
operation  of  the  project  proved  so  beneficial  to  the 
general  interests  of  the  Order,  that  it  was  publicly 
announced  in  Grand  Lodge,  that  ingenious  men  of  all 
faculties  and  stations,  being  now  convinced  that  the 
cement  of  the  Lodge  was  love  and  friendship,  earnestly 
requested  to  join  the  Society,  which  soon  flourished  in 
harmony,  reputation,  and  numbers.  Noblemen  and 
gentlemen  of  the  highest  rank — learned  men,  merchants, 
and  cfergymen,  found  in  the  Lodge  a  safe  and  pleasant 
relaxation  from  intense  study,  or  the  hurry  of  business, 
without  any  intermixture  of  politics  and  parties.  New 
Lodges  were  constituted,4  which  the  Grand  Master  and 
his  deputy  visited  in  person,  and  found  in  them  a  peace- 
ful asylum,  free  from  the  turmoils  and  disputes  by  which 
all  other  societies  were  characterised  and  deformed. 

"  But  I  can  assure  you,  sir,  that  the  opponents  of 
Freemasonry,  although  at  their  wit's  end,  were  deter- 
mined not  to  die  without  a  struggle5.  They  circulated 
all  manner  of  ridiculous  reports  about  the  practices  of 
Masons  in  Tyled  Lodges,  which  were  thus  commented  on 
by  a  Brother  who  was  a  member  of  our  Lodge,  in  an 
address  to  the  R.  W.  M.,  when  the  subject  was  mooted 
in  open  Lodge.  I  cannot  recollect  the  whole  of  his 
speech ;  but  he  said,  amongst  other  acute  observations, 
which  excited  the  unfeigned  applause  of  the  members : 
4  Though  we  envy  not  the  prosperity  of  any  society,  nor 

4  Not  only  in  this  country  but  on  the  continent,  and  these  latter 
unfortunately  became  a  fruitful  source  of  innovation.     In  1725,  the 
Chevalier  Ramsay  introduced  his  Royal  Arch  and  other  manufactured 
Degrees  into  a  Lodge,  under  an  English  warrant  held  in  the  Rue  de 
Boucheries  at  Paris,  which  was  presided  over  by  Lord  Derwentwater : 
whore  they  were  practised  as  legitimate  Masonry.     Ramsay  tried  to 
introduce  them  into  this  country,  but  failed.     See  more  of  this  in  the 
Hist.  Landmarks,  vol.  ii.,  Lect.  xxv.,  Part  I.,  p.  32. 

5  They  published  about  this  time,  "  Observations  and  Critical  Re- 
marks on  the  new  Constitutions  of  the  F.  M.,   written  by  James 
Anderson,  etc."     London,  1725. 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  19 

meddle  with  their  transactions  and  characters,  we  have 
not  met  with  such  fair  treatment  from  others ;  nay,  even 
those  that  never  had  an  opportunity  of  obtaining  any 
certain  knowledge  of  us,  have  run  implicitly  with* the 
cry,  and,  without  fear  or  wit,  have  vented  their  spleen  in 
accusing  and  condemning  us  unheard,  untried  ;  while  we, 
innocent  and  secure  within,  laugh  only  at  their  gross 
ignorance  and  impotent  malice.  Have  not  people  in 
former  ages,  as  well  as  now,  alleged  that  Freemasons  in 
their  Lodges  raise  the  devil  in  a  circle,  and  when  they 
have  done  with  him,  that  they  lay  him  again  with  a 
noise  or  a  hush,  as  they  please?  How  have  some  of  our 
maligners  diverted  themselves  with  the  wild  story  of  an 
old  woman  between  the  rounds  of  a  ladder !  Others 
will  swear  to  the  cook's  red-hot  iron  or  salamander  for 
marking  an  indelible  character  on  the  new-made  Mason, 
in  order  to  give  him  the  faculty  of  taciturnity.  Sure 
such  blades  will  beware  of  coming  through  the  fingers 
of  the  Freemasons?' 

"  Not  contented  with  having  circulated  these  viva  voce 
calumnies,"  the  Square  continued,  "pamphlets  began  to 
fly  about  in  every  form,  denouncing  the  proceedings  of 
Masonry;6  and  several  newspapers  of  the  day  joined  in 

6  In  1724.  a  year  after  the  appearance  of  the  new  Book  of  Consti- 
tutions, we  have  the  following  pretended  revelation  of  its  secrets  : — 
"  The  Grand  Mystery  of  Free- Masons  discovered ;  wherein  are  the 
several  Questions  put  to  them  at  their  Meetings  and  Installations  :  as 
also  their  Oath,  Health,  Signs,  and  Points  to  know  each  other  by. 
As  they  were  found  in  the  custody  of  a  Free-Mason  who  dyed  sud- 
denly ;  and  now  published  for  the  Information  of  the  Publick :" 
London,  printed  for  J.  Payne,  near  Stationers'  Hall.  Folio.  Price 
Sixpence.  To  the  second  edition  were  annexed  "  Two  Letters  to  a 
Friend."  The  first  concerning  the  Society  of  Freemasons;  the 
second  giving  an  account  of  the  Gormagons.  London,  printed  for  A 
Moore,  1725.  Folio.  Price  One  Shilling.  The  Fraternity  will 
thank  me  for  presenting  them  with  the  introduction  to  this  catch- 
penny, as  it  will  show  how  coarsely  the  enemies  of  Masonry  endea- 
voured to  accomplish  their  ends.  "  There  was  a  man  at  Louvaino 
who  proclaimed  that  he  had,  with  great  toil  and  difficulty,  overcome 
and  tamed,  and  was  ready  at  his  booth  to  show,  at  the  rate  of  six 
stivers  a-piece,  that  most  hideous  and  voracious  monster,  the  common 
disturber  of  mankind,  especially  in  their  adversity.  People  nocked 
from  all  parts  to  see  this  monster.  They  went  in  at  the  fore  door, 
and  after  they  had  seen  the  creature,  went  out  at  the  back  door, 
where  they  were  asked  whether  the  monster  were  worth  seeing  ?  But 
as  they  had,  at  their  admittance,  promised  to  keep  the  secret,  they 
answered  that  it  was  a  very  wonderful  creature.  By  some  accident, 
however,  it  was  divulged  that  this  wonderful  creature  was  a  Louse  ! !  1" 


20  THE    REVELATIONS    OP    A   SQUARE. 

the  cry,  for  it  contributed  materially  to  the  sale  of  the 
sheet.  Are  you  aware,  sir,  what  very  poor  productions 
these  periodicals  were?  Do  not  speak!  Well,  then, 
I'll  tell  you.  They  consisted  of  two  leaves  of  pot  paper, 
and  were  dreadfully  stupid;  barren,  sir,  very  barren  ol 
news  ;  and,  therefore,  the  present  popularity  of  Masonry 
was  a  god-send;  and  the  writers  did  not  fail  to  im- 
prove the  occasion  by  inventing  any  sort  of  nonsense, 
which  they  nicknamed  '  the  doings  of  Masonry  in  secret 
Lodges;'  and  the  more  ridiculous  the  imputation,  the 
greater  was  the  demand  for  the  paper.7  Danvers,  a 
writer  in  the  'Craftsman,'  so  far  exceeded  his  fellow- 
journalists  in  absurdity,  as  to  have  written  a  prosy  article 
for  the  pnrpose  of  proving  that  those  who  hanged  Capt. 
Porteous,  of  Edinburgh,  were  all  Freemasons,  because 
they  kept  their  own  secrets  ;8  and,  therefore,  the  sapient 
writer  concluded  the  perpetrators  must  be  Masons,  inas- 
much as  they  were  never  found  out.9 

"The  Fraternity  were  much  amused  with  these 
abortive  attempts  to  prejudice  them  in  public  opinion ; 
and  I  have  heard  them  sing  the  Sword  Bearer's  Song,  as 
a  glee  for  three  voices,  and  full  chorus,  with  shouts  of 
laughter  and  applause.10  But  the  Brethren  took  nc 

7  Some  of  these  amusing  periodicals  were  called,  "  The  Daily  Post," 
"The  British  Plaindealer,"  "The  Daily  Journal,"  "The  Post  Boy," 
in  winch  it  is  asserted  that  "  The  Freemasons  put  out  a  sham  discov- 
ery to  invalidate  their  revelations  ;  but  the  only  genuine  discovery  is 
in  '  The  Post  Boy'  and  *  The  Flying  Post.'  " 

8  This  circumstance  is  referred  to  in  our  inotto. 

9 "Craftsman,"  16th  April,  1736,  No.  563.  And  see  Sir  Walter 
Scott's  "Heart  of  Midlothian." 

10  This  song  being  read  with  the  above  explanation  in  view,  will  be 
seen  in  a  new  and  interesting  light. 

"  To  all  who  Masonry  despise, 

This  counsel  I  bestow : 
Don't  ridicule,vif  you  are  wise, 

A  secret  you. don't  know. 
Yourselves  you  banter,  but  not  it — 
You  show  your  spleen,  but  not  your  wit. 

"  Inspiring  virtue  by  our  rules, 

And  in  ourselves  secure, 
We  have  compassion  for  those  fools 

Who  think  our  acts  impure. 
We  know  from  ignorance  proceeds 
Such  mean  opinion  of  our  deeds. 

"  If  union  and  sincerity 

Have  a  pretence  to  please, 

We  Brothers  of  Freemasonry 

Lay  justly  claim  to  these. 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  21 

official  notice  of  them,  as  they  were  considered  too 
contemptible  to  merit  their  serious  attention.  Nor  did 
they  esteem  the  philippic  of  Dean  Swift  worthy  of  any 
reply,  as  it  was  evidently  written  for  a  satirical  purpose.11 
"At  length,  however,  these  attacks  assumed  a  form 
which  it  was  thought  necessary  to  counteract  in  some 
public  manner.  One  gentleman  (for  they  were  mostly 
anonymous)  wrote  a  pamphlet  containing  a  critical 
review  of  the  History  of  Masonry;12  another  printed 
what  he  called  an  account  of  the  ceremonies  of  initia- 
tion,13 which  brought  out  a  third,  called  the  Freemason's 

To  State  disptutes  we  ne'er  give  birth; 
Our  motto  friendship  is,  and  mirth. 

"  Then  let  us  laugh,  since  we've  imposed 

On  those  who  make  a  pother, 
And  cry,  '  The  secret  is  disclosed 

By  some  false-hearted  Brother.' 
The  mighty  secret's  gained,  they  boast, 
From  'Post  Boy'  and  from  '  Flying  Post." 

11  As  may  be  understood  from  the  following  specimen  : — "  As  to 
the  secret  words  and  signals  used  among  Masons,"  he  says,  "  it  is  to 
be  observed,  that  in  the  Hebrew  alphabet  there  are  four  pair  of  let- 
ters, of  which  each  pair  are  so  like  that,  at  the  first  view,  they  seem 
to  be  the  same.  Beth  (^)  and  Caph  (=),  Gimel  (^)  and  Nun  (2), 
Cheth  (n)  and  Thau  (^),  Daleth  (^)  and  Resch  (^)  ;  and  on  these 
depend  all  their  signals  and  gripes.  Cheth  and  Thau  are  shaped  like 
two  standing  gallowses  of  two  legs  each ;  when  two  Masons  accost 
each  other,  one  cries  Cheth,  and  the  other  answers  Thau,  signifying 
that  they  would  sooner  be  hanged  on  the  gallows  than  divulge  the 
secret.  Then  again,  Beth  and  Caph  are  each  like  a  gallows  lying  on 
one  of  the  side  posts,  and  when  used  as  above,  imply  this  pious 

Erayer :  "  May  all  who  reveal  the  secret  hang  upon  the  gallows  till  it 
ill  down.'  This  is  their  Master  secret,  generally  called,  the  Great 
Word.  Daleth  and  Resch  are  like  two  half  gallowses,  or  a  gallows 
cut  in  two  at  the  cross  stick  at  the  top,  by  which,  when  pronounced, 
they  intimate  to  each  other  that  they  would  rather  be  half  hanged 
than  name  either  word  or  signal  before  any  other  but  a  Brother  so  as 
to  be  understood.  When  one  says  Gimel,  the  other  says  Nun ;  then 
the  first  again,  joining  both  letters  together,  repeats  three  times 
Gimel  Nun,  Gimel  Nun,  Gimel  Nun ;  4>y  Avhich  they  mean  that  they 
are  united  as  one  in  interests,  secrecy,  and  affection." 

1244  Observations  and  Critical  Eemarks  on  the  New  Constitutions  of 
^freemasonry." 

13 "The  Secret  History  of  Freemasonry,  being  an  accidental  Dis- 
covery of  the  Ceremonies  made  use  of  in  the  several  Lodges,  upon 
the  Admittance  of  a  Brother  as  a  Free  and  Accepted  Mason,"  &c. ; 
with  the  Charge,  Oath,  and  private  Articles  given  to  him  at  the  time 
of  his  admission.  Printed  from  the  old  original  Record  of  the 
Society ;  with  some  observations,  reflections,  and  critical  Remarks 


22         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

Accusation  and  Defence,  which,  in  fact,  had  already 
appeared  in  the  'Post  Boy;'14  and  in  1726  an  oration,  in 
which  these  attacks  were  alluded  to,  was  delivered  by 
the  Junior  Grand  Warden  of  the  York  Masons,  in  the 
presence  of  Charles  Bathurst,  Esq.,  the  Grand  Master, 
which  was  ordered  to  be  printed.15  A  speech  was  also 
published  as  delivered  at  Carmarthen  in  1728  ;16  and 
another  writer  thus  speaks  of  some  objections  which 
were  made  against  the  Craft : — '  Others  complain  that 
the  Masons  continue  too  long  in  the  Lodge,  spending 
their  money  to  the  hurt  of  their  families,  and  come  home 
too  late — nay,  sometimes  intoxicated  with  liquor!  But 
they  have  no  occasion  to  drink  much  in  Lodge  hours, 
which  are  not  long;  and  when  the  Lodge  is  closed 
(always  in  good  time)  any  Brother  may  go  home  when 
he  pleases :  so  that  if  any  stay  longer,  and  become  intoxi- 
cated, it  is  at  their  own  cost,  not  as  Masons,  but  as 
other  imprudent  men  do,  for  which  the  Fraternity  is  not 
accountable ;  and  the  expense  of  a  Lodge  is  not  so  great 
as  that  of  a  private  club.  Some  observing  that  Masons 
are  not  more  religious,  nor  more  knowing,  than  other 
men,  are  astonished  at  what  they  can  be  conversant  about 
in  Lodge  hours!  but  though  a  Lodge  is  not  a  school  of 
divinity,  the  Brethren  are  taught  the  great  lessons  of 
religion,  morality,  humanity,  and  friendship;  to  abhor 
persecution,  and  to  be  peaceable  subjects  under  the  civil 
government  wherever  they  reside ;  and  as  for  their  know- 
on  the  new  Constitution  Book  of  the  Free  Masons,  written  by  James 
Anderson,  A.  M.,  and  dedicated  to  the  Duke  of  Montague  by  J. 
Desaguliers,  LL.  D.,  Deputy  Grand  Master  With  a  short  Dic- 
tionary of  private  signs  and  signals.  The  second  edition.  London, 
printed  for  Sam.  Briscoe,  at  the  Bell-Savage,  1725. 

14  "The  Freemasons'  Accusation  and  Defence,  in  Six  genuine 
Letters  between  a  Gentleman  in  the  Country  and  his  Son,  a  Student 
in  the  Temple,  wherein  the  whole  affair  of  Masonry  is  fairly  debated, 
and  all  the  Arguments  for  and  against  that  Fraternity  are  curiously 
and  impartially  handled."  London,  Peele  and  Blandford,  1726. 

"  A  Speech  delivered'to  the  Worshipful  and  Ancient  Society  of 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  at  a  Grand  Lodge  held  at  Merchant^ 
Hall,  in  the  City  of  York,  on  St.  Thomas's  Day,  December  27,  172(1 
1  he  Right  Worshipful  Charles  Bathurst,  Esq.,  Grand  Mastr-r.     By" 
the  Junior  Grand  Warden."     London,  1729. 

"A  Speech  delivered  at  a  Lodge  held  at  the  Carpenter's  Arms, 
the  31st  December,  1728,  by  Edvv.  Oakley,  late  Prov.  Senior  Grand 
Warden  in  Carmarthen." 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          23 

..edge,  they  claim  as  large  a  share  of  it  as  other  men  in 
their  situation.'  Beyond  these  fugitive  attempts,  I  did 
not  hear  that  anything  was  done  at  present  to  rebut  the 
slanders  which  were  so  freely  circulated  to  the  prejudice 
of  the  Craft. 

"  At  length,  in  1730,  a  man  of  the  name  of  Prichard, 
an  unprincipled  and  needy  Brother,  concocted  a  book 
which  contained  a  great  deal  of  plausible  matter,  mingled 
with  a  few  grains  of  truth,  which  he  published  under 
the  name  of 'Masonry  Dissected,'17  and  impudently  pro- 
claimed in  his  dedication  that  it  was  intended  for  the 
information  of  the  Craft.18  And  to  show  his  learning,  he 

17  "  Masonry  Dissected;  being  a  Universal  and  Genuine  Descrip- 
tion of  all  its  Branches,  from  the  Original  to  this  Present  Time :  as 
it  is  delivered  in  the  constituted  regular  Lodges,  both  in  City  and 
Country,  according  to  the  several  Degrees  of  Admission ;  giving  an 
impartial  Account  of  their  regular  Proceedings  in  initiating  their 
New  Members  in  the  whole  Three  Degrees  of  Masonry,  viz.,  I. 
Entered  Prentice ;  II.  Fellow  Craft ;  III.  Master.  To  which  is 
added,  The  Authors  Vindication  of  Himself.  By  Samuel  Prichard, 
late  Member  of  a  constituted  Lodge.  London,  1730.  Fourth  edition, 
London,  J.  Wilford,  1731.  Eighth  edition,  London,  J.  Thorbuck, 
1737.  Thirteenth  edition,  London,  Chandler,  1774.  Twenty-first 
edition,  London,  Byfield  and  Hawkesworth,  1787.  It  was  translated 
into  Dutch,  French,  and  German.  The  former  had  this  title: — 
"  Prichard  het  Collegie  der  Vrije-Metselaars  ontledt,  of  een  algemeene 
m  opregte  Beschrijving  van  alle  derzelves  Soorten,  v*n  desselfs 
Oorsprong  tot  op  de  Jegenwoordige  Tyd."  Utrecht,  1734.  The 
French  edition  had  this  title: — "La  Reception  mysterieuse  de  la 
celebre  Societe  des  Francs- Masons,  contenant  une  Relation  generale 
et  sincere  de  leurs  Ceremonies.  Par  Samuel  Prichard,  ci  devant 
Membre  d'une  Chamber  de  la  meme  Confrairie.  Traduite  de  1' An- 
glais eclaircie  par  des  Remarques  critiques,  suivie  de  quelques  autres 
Pieces  curieuses,  relatives  a  la  Grande  Bretagne,  avec  des  Observa- 
tions Historiques  et  Geographiques."  A  Londres  par  la  Compagnie 
des  Libraries,  1737.  And  the  German  edition  was  thus  announced : 
— "  Die  zunft  der  freien  maurer,  oder,  allgemeine  und  aufrichtige 
Beschreibung  aller  derselben  Gattungen,  von  ihrem  Ursprunge  bis 
auf  jetzige  zeit.  Als  em  Unpartheyischer  Bericht  ihrer  Handlungen 
bei  Aunehm  und  Einweihung  ihrer  neuen  Gleieder,  und  den  drei 
unterschiedenen  Stuffen  derer  Maurer.  Ans  Licht  gegeben  durch 
Samuel  Prichard,  vormaligen  Glied  einer  Zunfft  Kammer.  Ans  der 
fiinften  Englishchon  Aufflage  iibersetzf:  1736.  Analysirt  in  den 
Actis  Hist.  Eccles.  1738,  im  Anhange  von  1736." 

18 1  subjoin  this  precious  dedication.  "To  the  Worshipful  and 
Honourable  Fraternity  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons.  Brethren 
and  Fellows. — If  the  following  sheets,  done  without  partiality,  gain 
the  universal  applause  of  so  worthy  a  society,  I  doubt  not  but  their 
general  character  will  be  diffused  and  esteemed  among  the  remaining 
2* 


24         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

asserted  in  his  preface  that  'from  the  accepted  Masons 
sprang  the  real  Masons,  from  both  sprang  the  Gorma- 
gons,  whose  Grand  Master,  the  Polgi,  deduces  his  original 
from  the  Chinese,  whose  writings,  if  to  be  credited, 
maintained  the  hypothesis  of  the  Pre-Adamites,  and 
consequently  must  be  more  antique  than  Masonry!  The 
most  free  and  open  society  is  that  of  the  Grand  Kaiheber, 
which  consists  of  a  select  company  of  responsible  people, 
whose  chief  discourse  is  concerning  trade  and  business, 
and  promoting  mutual  friendship  without  compulsion  or 
restriction.' ! ! ! 19 

"What  do  you  think  of  this,  sir?  Was  not  this 
information  truly  wonderful?  The  public  thought  so. 
They  said — '  It  must  be  this — it  can  be  nothing  else  ;  it 
is,  as  we  always  supposed,  a  whimsical  cheat,  supported 
by  great  names  to  seduce  fools,  who,  once  gulled  out  of 
their  money,  keep  the  fraud  secret  to  draw  in  others.' 
And  accordingly  the  book  had  an  enormous  and  rapid 
sale,  for  four  editions  were  called  for  in  the  first  year  of 
its  publication,  so  open  is  poor  John  Bull  to  imposition. 
Its  success  stimulated  others  to  follow  in  the  same  track, 
and  three  or  four  pretended  revelations  of  Masonic  secrets 
issued  from  the  press  simultaneously.20 

"It  was  now  considered  necessary  to  disabuse  the 
public  mind ;  and  for  this  purpose  Dr.  Anderson  was 
directed  by  the  Grand  Lodge  in  1738  to  prepare  a  defence 
of  the  Order  against  the  calumnies  which  had  been  so 
industriously  circulated  to  its  prejudice.,  Several  pamph- 
lets had  already  appeared,  as  the  Oration  of  the  celebra- 
ted Martin  Clare,  J.  G.W.,  in  1735,  before  the  Grand 
Lodge;21  the  'Freemasons'  Pocket  Companion,'  by  Dr. 

polite  part  of  mankind ;  which  I  hope  will  give  entire  satisfaction  to 
all  lovers  of  truth ;  and  I  shall  remain,  with  all  humble  submission, 
the  Fraternity's  most  obedient  humble  servant,  Sam.  Prichard." 

19  There  is  a  degree  or  society  of  this  nature  in  the  United  States, 
called  the  Secret  Monitor,  which  was  established  for  the  purpose  of 
enabling  its  members  to  assist  each  other  in  their  commercial  trans- 
actions. 

20 1.  "  The  Secrets  of  Masonry  made  known  to  all  Men,  by  S.  P., 
late  member  of  a  constituted  Lodge.  To  which  is  added,  The 
Author's  Vindication  of  Himself."  London,  Thorbuck,  1737.  2. 
"  The  Mystery  of  Masonry."  London,  Thorbuck,  1737.  3.  »  The 
Mysterious  Receptions  of  the  celebrated  Society  of  Freemasons ; 
containing  a  true  Account  of  their  Ceremonies."  London,  1737 
11  An  Address  made  to  the  Body  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          25 

Smith  ;22  and  the  ' Freemasons'  Vade  Mecum ;'  but  this 
latter  book  was  condemned  by  the  Grand  Lodge  as  'a 
piratical  silly  production,  done  without  leave,'  and  the 
Brethren  were  warned  not  to  use  it,  nor  encourage  the 
sale  thereof. 

"In  the  meanwhile,  Dr.  Anderson  wrote  his  celebrated 
Defence  of  Masonry,  in  which  he  treated  the  work  of 
Prichard  with  great  consideration.23  He  took  his  stand 
on  high  ground — gave  his  adversary  every  fair  and  reason- 
able advantage,  by  assuming  that  if  all  he  had  advanced 
were  correct,  still  Masonry  would  be  an  admirable  insti- 
tution, and  answered  his  book  seriatim  like  a  gentleman 
and  a  scholar.  When  the  Defence  came  out,  and  the 
subject  was  canvassed  in  the  Lodge,  some  thought  he 
had  conducted  the  dispute  with  greater  mildness  than  the 
fellow  deserved  ;  but  Brother  Anderson  contended — and 
truly,  as  I  thought  at  the  time — that  'it  would  be  giving 
our  opponents  too  serious  an  advantage  to  treat  their 
productions,  how  absurd  soever  they  might  be,  either 
with  flippancy  or  severity.' 

"He  commenced  the  Defence  by  conceding  certain 
points  which  were  thought  to  be  discreditable  to  the 
Order.  'Let,'  says  he,  'for  once,  this  dissection  contain 
all  the  secrets  of  Freemasonry ;  admit  that  every  word 
of  it  is  genuine  and  literally  true,  yet,  under  all  these 
concessions  —  under  all  disadvantages  and  prejudices 
whatever,  I  cannot  but  still  believe  there  have  been 
impositions  upon  mankind  more  ridiculous,  and  that 
many  have  been  drawn  into  a  society  more  pernicious.' 
He  then  proceeded  step  by  step  to  prove  its  manifold 
advantages;  and  admitting  that 'although  Masonry  has 
in  some  circumstances  declined  from  its  original  purity, 
by  running  in  muddy  streams,  and  as  it  were  under 
ground,  yec  notwithstanding  the  great  rust  it  may  have 
contracted,  and  the  forbidding  light  in  which  it  is  placed 
by  the  Dissector,  there  is  still  much  of  the  old  fabric 
remaining;  the  essential  pillars  of  the  building  may  be 

assembled  at  a  Quarterly  Communication,  holden  near  Temple  Bar, 
December,  11,  1735."  Translated  into  French  and  German. 

22  "  The  Freemasons'  Pocket  Companion,  by  W.   Smith,   D.  D." 
Thorbuck,  London,  1736. 

23  A  Defence  of  Masonry,  occasioned  by  a  pamphlet  called  Masonry 
jpissected,  by  James  Anderson,  D.  D.     1730. 


26          THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

discovered  through  the  rubbish,  though  the  superstruc- 
ture be  overrun  with  moss  and  ivy,  and  the  stones  by 
length  of  time  disjointed.  And,  therefore,  as  the  bust 
of  aii  old  hero  is  of  great  value  among  the  curious,  though 
it  has  lost  an  eye,  the  nose,  or  the  right  hand,  so  Masonry, 
with  all  its  blemishes  and  misfortunes,  instead  of  appear- 
ing ridiculous,  ought,  in  my  humble  opinion,  to  be 
received  with  some  candour  and  esteem,  from  the  vene- 
ration to  its  antiquity.' 

"  The  effect  of  this  Defence  was  electrical.  It  was 
universally  read  and  admired;  and  though  the  attacks 
on  Masonry  were  still  continued, — for  while  the  cowan 
was  willing  to  purchase,  false  Brethren  would  always 
be  found  who  were  ready  to  sell;  they  attracted  the 
attention  of  none  but  the  very  lowest  classes  of  the  peo- 
ple. One  of  the  most  eminent  members  of  the  Craft, 
on  a  visit  at  our  Lodge,  paid  Dr.  Anderson  a  very  high 
compliment  when  proposing  the  thanks'of  the  Fraternity 
for  the  service  he  had  rendered  to  Masonry  by  the  pub- 
lication of  the  Defence.  He  said — '  The  Freemasons  are 
much  obliged  to  the  generous  intention  of  the  unbiassed 
Author  of  the  Defence;  though  some  think  the  inge- 
nious Defender  has  spent  too  much  fine  learning  and 
reasoning  upon  the  foolish  Dissection  that  is  justly 
despised  by  the  Fraternity,  as  much  as  the  other  pre- 
tended discoveries  of  their  secrets  in  public  newspapers 
and  pasquils,  all  of  a  sort,  for  all  of  them  put  together 
do  not  discover  the  profound  and  sublime  things  of  old 
Masonry;  nor  can  any  man,  not  a  Mason,  make  use  of 
those  incoherent  smatterings  (interspersed  with  ignorant 
nonsense  and  gross  falsities)  among  bright  Brothers,  for 
any  purpose  but  to  be  laughed  at ;  our  communications 
being  of  a  quite  different  sort.'  The  motion  of  thanks, 
as  you  may  suppose,  was  carried  by  acclamation. 

"  I  have  said  more  about  this  Defence,"  continued  my 
extraordinary  companion,  "  than  may  be  necessary  on 
any  future  publication,  because  it  constitutes  the  first 
attempt  on  record  to  explain  the  real  working  of  the 
machinery  of  the  Order.24  Poor  Prichard  had  the  auda- 

24  The  curious  reader  may  find  the  entire  Essay  in  the  first  volume 
of  "The  Golden  Remains,"  p.  47;  and  it  is  of  such  sterling  excel- 
lence as  will  amply  repay  a  diligent  perusal. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          27 

city  to  publish  a  reply,25  but  he  soon  found,  by  the 
stinted  sale  of  his  book  compared  with  the  rapid  demand 
for  his  former  production,  that  Dr.  Anderson  had  spoiled  his 
trade,  and  that  no  one  now  gave  him  credit  for  veracity. 
He  had  confessed  himself  to  be  a  perjured  man ;  and  it 
proved  fatal  to  his  reputation.  From  being  a  whale 
among  the  minnows,  he  dwindled  into  a  minnow  among 
the  whales;  and  having  once  sunk  into  contempt  and 
insignificance,  he  was  heard  of  no  more. 

"  Dr.  Anderson's  Defence  was  followed  by  an  anony- 
mous work,  called  '  The  Beginning  and  First  Foundation 
of  the  most  worthy  Craft  of  Freemasonry,'  published  in 
1739 ;  and  a  French  writer,  whose  book  was  translated 
into  English,  although  not  very  complimentary  to  the 
Order  in  general,  admits  '  that  the  prince  and  the  magis- 
trate here  lose  nothing  of  that  homage  due  from  their 
inferiors.  Nothing  is  banished  but  discord  and  quarrel- 
ling, which,  if  one  moment  raises,  the  next  extinguishes, 
and  this  principle  of  union  and  society  with  which  each 
Brother  is  impressed,  becomes  the  principle  of  peace 
and  quietness,  which  he  preserves  without  any  altera- 
tion until  the  time  when  he  is  required  to  throw  it  off, 
only  for  the  purpose  of  rendering  it  more  universal  and 
more  durable.  What  I  have  just  said  of  the  calmness 
and  tranquillity  which  reigns  in  the  Order  of  Free- 
masons will,  without  doubt,  appear  to  some  an  incom- 
prehensible paradox ;  but  I  will  proceed,  and  their 
surprise  will  increase,  when  they  know  that  this  union 
is  carried  to  such  a  pitch,  that  if  two  Masons,  without 
knowing  each  other,  should  quarrel  and  fight  with  the 
sword, — upon  an  intimation  that  they  were  both  Masons, 
the  fury  and  rage  which  before  animated  the  combatants, 
would  in  an  instant  give  place  to  the  most  sincere  recon- 
ciliation, and  the  most  tender  friendship  ;  and  this,  if  any 
signs  should  escape  either  of  them,  so  that  his  adversary 
should  only  suspect  him  to  be  a  member  of  the  same 
Order  with  himself,  his  anger  would  instantly  cease, 
and,  upon  an  explanation,  a  thousand  embraces  and 
expressions  of  regard  would  quench  the  boiling  fury, 
which  but  a  moment  before  had  consigned  one  or  both 
to  sure  destruction.' 

25  "  Masonry  further  Dissected."     London,  1738. 


28  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

"  The  Book  of  Constitutions  becoming  scarce  in  the 
year  1737,  Dr.  Anderson,  who  had  assisted  in  the  former 
work,  prayed  for  the  favour  of  reprinting  it,  with  the 
transactions  of  the  Society  down  to  the  year  1738.  This 
being  complied  with,  and  the  copy  delivered,  the  manage- 
ment of  it  at  the  press  was  entrusted  to  him.  The 
manuscript  being  approved,  the  following  Resolution 
was  unanimously  agreed  to  : — 

"  Whereas,  at  the  Grand  Lodge,  on  24th  February, 
1734-5,  the  Earl  of  Crauford,  Grand  Master,  being  in  the 
Chair,  Bro.  James  Anderson,  D.D.,  having  represented 
that  a  new  Book  of  Constitutions  was  become  necessary, 
and  that  he  had  prepared  materials  for  it,  the  Grand  Master 
and  the  Lodge  ordered  him  to  lay  the  same  before  the 
present  and  former  Grand  Officers,  as  in  the  Grand  Lodge 
Book.  And  our  said  Bro.  Anderson,  having  submitted 
his  manuscript  to  the  perusal  of  some  former  Grand 
Officers,  particularly  our  noble  Bro.  Richmond,  and  our 
Bros.  Desaguliers,  Cowper,  Payne,  and  others,  who,  after 
making  some  corrections,  have  signified  their  approbation, 
and  having  next,  according  to  the  foresaid  order,  com- 
mitted his  manuscript  to  the  perusal  of  the  present 
Grand  Officers,  who,  having  also  reviewed  and  corrected 
it,  have  declared  their  approbation  of  it  to  the  Grand 
Lodge  assembled  in  ample  form  on  the  25th  of  January, 
1737-8;  the  Grand  Lodge  then  .agreed  to  order  our 
££,id  Bro.  Anderson  to  print  and  publish  the  said  manu- 
script or  new  Book  of  Constitutions.  And  it  is  hereby 
approved  and  recommended  as  the  only  Book  of  Consti- 
tutions, for  the  use  of  the  Lodges  of  the  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  by  the  said  Grand  Lodge,  on  the  said 
25th  January,  1737-8,  in  the  vulgar  year  of  Masonry, 
5737-8.20 

26  Anderson,  in  his  Dedication  to  the  Prince  of  Wales,  says, 
44  Your  Royal  Highness  well  knows  that  our  Fraternity  has  been 
often  patronised  by  royal  persons  in  former  ages,  whereby  architec- 
ture early  obtained  the  title  of  the  *  Royal  Art ;'  and  the  Freemasons 
have  always  endeavoured  to  deserve  that  patronage  by  their  loyalty. 
For  we  meddle  not  with  affairs  of  State  in  our  Lodges,  nor  with  any 
thing  that  may  give  outrage  to  civil  magistrates,  that  may  break  the 
harmony  of  our  own  communications,  or  that  may  weaken  the  cement 
of  the  Lodge.  And  whatever  are  our  different  opinions  in  other 
things,  leaving  all  men  to  the  liberty  of  conscience,  as  Masons  we 
harmoniously  agree  in  the  noble  science  and  the  royal  art,  in  the 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          29 

fcl  About  this  time  I  had  the  high  honour  of  witnessing 
borne  regal  initiations.  His  Royal  Highness  Francis 
btephen,  Duke  of  Lorrain,  received  the  two  first  degrees 
oi  Masonry  at  the  Hague,  by  virtue  of  a  deputation  from 
Lord  Lovel,  G.M.,  for  a  Lodge  there,  of  which  Dr.  Desa- 
guhers  was  the  Master ;  and  subsequently  he  was  raised 
to  the  third  degree,  along  with  his  Grace  the  Duke  of 
Newcastle,  at  Houghton  Hall,  in  Norfolk,  the  seat  of  Sir 
Robert  Walpole.  This  was  in  1731.  A  few  years  later, 
viz.,  on  the  15th  November,  1737,  an  occasional  Lodge 
was  opened  at  Kew,  Dr.  Desaguliers  being  the  Master, 
and  Bros.  Gofton  and  King  the  Wardens,  where  his 
Royal  Highness  Frederick,  Prince  of  Wales,  received 
the  two  first  degrees,  and  in  due  time  was  raised  to  the 
degree  of  a  Master  Mason  in  the  same  place,  and  by  the 
same  Officers,'  although*k  was  not  usual  to  raise  a  Bro- 
ther in  a  private  Lodge,  nor  in  Grand  Lodge,  till  he  was 
elected  to  the  Chair.  The  Grand  Master,  however,  had 
the  power  of  dispensing  with  this  rale,  and  also  of 
making  Masons  when  arid  where  he  pleased. 

"  According  to  an  apocryphal  legend  of  Masonry,  which 
it  is  as  well  to  know,  although  impracticable  in  later 
times,  the  ancient  Masons  were  enjoined  to  initiate  their 
candidates  at  the  third,  sixth,  and  ninth  hours  only ; 
for  which  custom  they  assigned  these  reasons :  that  it 
was  at  the  third  hour  of  the  day  that  the  Holy  Ghost 
descended  on  the  Apostles  at  the  Pentecost;27  at  the 
sixth  hour  Peter  went  up  to  the  house-top  to  offer  his 
prayers  to  God,  when  he  was  favoured  with  a  celestial 
vision  ;23  and  at  the  ninth  hour  Peter  and  John  went  to 
the  Temple  for  the  same  purpose,  and  then  and  there 
healed  a  man  who  had  been  lame  from  his  mother's 
womb.29 

"  Dr.  Desaguliers  having  been  a  Fellow  of  the  Royal 
Society  for  some  years,  the  energies  of  his  mind,  were 
now  directed  to  other  pursuits,  and  he  resigned  the 
Chair  as 'Master  of  the  Lodge;  in  consequnce  of  which 
your  humble  servant,  being  akmoveable  jewel,  fell  into 
other  hands.  The  Doctor  -maddSnany  important  improve- 

social  virtues,  in  being  true  and  faithful^and  in  avoiding  what  may 
give  offence  to  any  powers  round  the  £$pbe,  under  whom  we  can 
peaceably  assemble  in  ample  form."  \ 

27  Acts  ii.,  1.  28  Ibid,  x.,  9.  29  Ibid,  iii.,  1. 


30          THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

merits  in  mechanics  and  communicated  some  curious 
papers,  which  are  printed  in  the  Philosophical  Transac- 
tions. He  published  a  valuable  course  of  Experimental 
Philosophy  in  two  volumes,  4to.,  and  contributed  greatly 
to  the  scientific  knowledge  of  the  age  in  which  he 
lived.so 

"  The  career  of  this  worthy  Brother  was  marked  by 
many  essential  benefits  to  Masonry.  He  established 
several  new  Lodges,  and  based  them  on  such  sound 
principles,  that  one  of  them  at  least  is  in  existence  at 
this  very  day.  The  Strong  Man  Lodge  was  numbered 
68  in  the  lists  of  1738,  1764,  and  1767,  arid  was  estab- 
lished according  to  the  former  authorities,  2nd  February 
1733,  and  by  the  latter,  February  17th,  1734.31  Its 
origin  is  somewhat  extraordinary,  and  worth  hearing. 

80  The  following  sketch  of  this  eminent  Mason's  life  may  be  in- 
teresting. He  was  the  son  of  a  French  Protestant  clergyman,  and 
born  at  Rochelle  on  the  12th  March,  1683.  His  father  came  to  Eng- 
land while  he  Avas  an  infant,  and  having  taught  him  the  classics, 
sent  him  to  finish  his  education  at  Christ  Church,  in  Oxford.  In  1702 
he  was  so  far  distinguished  as  to  be  elected,  on  the  retirement  of 
Dr.  Keil,  to  read  courses  of  experimental  philosophy  in  Hart  Hall. 
He  settled  in  Westminster  on  his  marriage  in  1712,  and  continued 
his  philosophical  lectures  there.  Two  years  later  he  was  named  a 
F.  R.  S.,  to  which  he  contributed  a  great  number  of  papers  on  scientific 
subjects.  About  this  time  we  find  him  flourishing  under  the  patron- 
age of  the  Duke  of  Chuudos,  who  presented  to  him  the  living  of 
Edgware;  and  he  was  appointed  chaplain  to  H.  R.  H.  Frederick 
Prince  of  Wales.  After  having  acquired  a  world- wide  reputation  as 
a  zealous  and  talented  Mason,  he  removed  to  lodgings  over  the  great 
piazza  in  Covent  Garden,  and  carried  on  his  lectures  till  his  death  in 
1749.  He  was  a  member  of  several  foreign  literary  societies,  and  a 
corresponding  member  of  the  Royal  Academy  of  Sciences  at  Paris. 
He  obtained  from  many  competitors  the  Prize  given  by  the  King  of 
France  for  the  best  treatise  on  Electricity.  He  published  a ''  Course 
of  Experimental  Philosophy,"  2  vols.  4to. ;  and  an  edition  of  "Gre- 
gory's Elements  of  Catoptrics  and  Dioptrics,"  with  an  Appendix, 
containing  an  account  of  Reflecting  Telescopes.  8vo. 

31  It  appears  by  the  Records  of  Grand  Lodge,  that  a  warrant, 
bearing  date  the  2nd  day  of  February,  1734,  was  issued  under  the 
seal  of  Masonry,  enabling  certain  Brethren  therein  named  to  open 
and  hold  a  Lodge  of  Freemasons  at  the  Ship  Coflee  House,  Hermit- 
age Bridge,  London,  to  be  called  "  The  Strong  Man  Lodge,"  which 
was  numbered  110;  but,  by  the  general  closing  up  of  the  list  of 
Lodges  in  the  year  1741),  it  became  No.  98.  By  the  closing  up  of 
the  list  of  Lodges  in  the  year  1756,  it  became  68.  In  the  year  1770 
the  said  Lodge  became  57.  By  the  closing  up  of  the  list  of  Lodges  in 
the  year  1781,  it  became  No.  44 ;  and  by  the  same  process  in  the 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          31 

"  About  the  year  1730,  or  it  might  be  a  year  or  two 
later,  the  attention  of  Brother  Desaguliers  was  attracted 
by  reports  of  the  great  strength  and  muscular  power  of 
a  man  named  Thomas  Topham,  who  kept  the  Red  Lion 
public-house,  nearly  opposite  the  old  hospital  of  St. 
Luke,  and  was  called,  by  way  of  eminence,  the  STRONG 
MAN.  It  appears  that  he  settled  down  *in  this  locality, 
from  its  vicinity  to  the  famous  ring  in  Moorfields,  where 
athletic  exercises  were  performed, — such  as  boxing, 
wrestling,  sword-play,  and  cudgelling,  under  the  super- 
intendence of  Old  Vinegar,  whom  I  remember  well.  As 
was  his  name  so  was  his  nature.  A  most  truculent- 
looking  fellow,  with  a  flat  nose,  swelled  cheeks,  low 
forehead,  broad  across  the  back,  shoulder-of-rnutton-fists, 
and  the  strerigth  of  a  giant ;  and  yet  Topham  found  no 
difficulty  in  lowering  his  pride ;  and  he  overthrew  him  in 
the  ring  as  if  he  had  been  made  of  cork,  amidst  the  shouts 
and  halloos  of  the  fancy,  and  to  the  supreme  delight  of 
those  whom  the  potency  of  Old  Vinegar  had  hitherto 
forced  to  succumb. 

"  The  first  public  feat  which  B-ro.  Desaguliers  saw 
Topham  perform  for  the  purpose  of  actually  testing  his 
strength  was  this.  A  powerful  cart-horse  was  harnessed 
and  placed  on  one  side  of  the  low  wall  which  then  divided 
the  upper  from  the  lower  Moorfields,  and  Topham  on  the 
other.  Taking  hold  of  the  end  of  the  traces,  the  fellow 
planted  his  feet  firmly  against  the  wall,  and  told  the 
spectators  to  flog  the  horse,  which  they  did,  without 
producing  any  effect ;  for  the  biped  proved  to  be  the 
most  powerful  animal  of  the  two.  He  afterwards  pulled 
against  a  pair  of  horses;  and  Dr.  Desaguliers  was  firmly 
persuaded  that  '  if  placed  in  a  proper  position,  he  would 
have  sustained,  the  efforts  of  four  horses,  without  the 
least  inconvenience.'  I  have  witnessed  several  other  in- 
stances of  his  personal  strength,"  continued  the  Square, 
"  but  the  repetition  of  them  will  not  be  interesting  to 
you. 

"Poor  Topham'     With  all  his  strength  he  was  as 

year  1792,  it  became  No.  41.  In  consequence  of  the  union  of  the  two 
Fraternities  of  Freemasons  on  the  27th  day  of  December,  1813,  it 
became,  and  is  now  registered  in  the  books  of  the  United  Grand  Lodge, 
No.  61 ;  and  meets  at  the  Swan  Tavern,  Mansel-street,  Goodman's 
Fields,  London. 


32          THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

meek  as  a  lamb,  and  a  perfect  slave  at  home,  for  hia 
termagant  helpmate  led  him  a  very  unquiet  life;  and,  in 
the  end,  ruined  him,  and  forced  him  from  his  dwelling. 
It  was  at  this  point  of  time  that  Dr.  Desaguliers  became 
his  friend  and  patron ;  for,  as  a  Professor  of  Experimental 
Philosophy,  he  took  great  interest  in  his  performances. 
He  placed  him  in  another  public-house  at  the  Hermitage, 
with  the  sign  of  the  Ship;  and,  after  making  him  a 
Mason,  established  a  Lodge  at  his  house  as  a  means  oi 
increasing  his  business  by  the  introduction  of  his  friends. 
And,  I  must  say,  the  Lodge  was  well  conducted,  with 
Bro.  Desaguliers  at  its  hea'd  as  the  Master ;  and  increased 
rapidly  in  numbers  and  respectability.  Its  cognizance 
was  the  redoubtable  Thomas  Topham  matching  his 
strength  against  that  of  a  horse,  with  his  feet  propped 
by  the  fragment  of  a  wail ;  and  its  name,  THE  STRONG 
MAN  LODGE.  Topham,  however,  unfortunately  took  to 
drinking,  and  the  business  fell  into  other  hands;  but  the 
Lodge  prospered,  and  was  considered  a  crack  establish- 
ment when  the  poor  fellow  and  his  patron  were  nc 


CHAPTER    III. 

PROCESSIONS. MARTIN    CLARE,  A.  M. 

1740—1747. 


"Regaid  not  who  it  is  that  speaketh,  but  weigh  only  what  is 
gpoken." — HOOKER. 

"  All  such  things  as  are  either  secret  or  manifest,  them  I  know." 
— SOLOMON. 

"  You  shall  understand,  my  dear  friends,  that  amongst  the  excel- 
lent acts  of  that  king,  one  above  all  hath  the  pre-eminence.  It  was 
the  erection  and  institution  of  an  Order,  or  Society,  which  we  call 
Solomon's  House,  the  noblest  foundation  (as  we  think)  that  ever  was 
upon  earth,  and  the  lantern  of  this  kingdom.  It  is  dedicated  to  the 
study  of  the  works  and  creatures  of  God." — LORD  BACON. 

"THE  Brother,  whose  property  I  had  now  become," 
continued  the  Square,  "was  Master  of  the  Lodge  No.  2, 
at  the  Horn  Tavern,  New  Palace  Yard,  Westminster, 
the  old  Lodge  which  formerly  met  at  the  Rummer  and 

Grapes,  and  he  was  an  expert  ruler.     He ."     (Here 

"the  Square  communicated  several  particulars  about  the 
method  of  conducting  a  Lodge  in  those  times,  which, 
though  very  curious  and  important,  I  am  bound  to  hold 
sacred,  as  I  cannot  make  them  public  without  incurring 
the  penalty  of  the  unfortunate  Prichard.  It  appears 
that  the  Master  was  a  strict  disciplinarian,  and,  under  his 
instructions,  the  Brethren  made  a  rapid  progress  in  the 
knowledge  of  Masonry,  although  he  entertained  some 
absurdities  which  he  communicated  only  to  a  few  select 
Brothers  in  private ;  one  of  which,  not  being  of  any  great 
importance  to.  Masonry,  I  may  mention  without  violating 
a  sacred  pledge.  For  instance,  he  taught  them  that 
Adam,  our  first  parent,  constructed  a  stone  in  the  form 
of  an  oblong  square,  or  double  cube,  arid  placed  it  over 
the  grave  of  of  his  beloved  son  Abel,  who  had  been  slain 
by  his  brother,  inscribed  with  the  history  of  the  transac- 
tion in  hieroglyphical  characters ;  and  this,  he  told  them, 
was  the  origin  of  the  same  custom  amongst  the  Egyp- 


34  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

tians !  I  had  great  difficulty  here  to  restrain  myself  from 
uttering  an  exclamation.  The  principal  symbol  which 
it  contained,  was  the  Mark  placed  on  the  forehead  of 
Cain  by  the  finger  of  God,  viz.,  the  TAU  CROSS, — the 
emblem  of  life.  And  thus  this  protective  landmark  was 
communicated  to  mankind,  that  no  one  might  violate 
the  divine  command  by  depriving  him  of  existence.  And 
our  imaginative  Master  was  bold  enough  to  add,  that 
this  mark  was  the  talisman  used  by  Moses  to  protect  the 
Israelites  from  the  devastations  of  the  destroying  angel 
in  the  wilderness  of  Arabia.) 

"  Although  the  Master  was  inflexibly  rigid,"  my  com- 
panion continued,  "in  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  and  in 
exacting  from  others  the  same  rule  of  conduct  which  he 
imposed  on  himself,  yet,  when  the  Lodge  was  closed, 
and  supper  placed  on  the  table — hey  ^presto! — he  was 
quite  another  man.  No  one  was  more  jocose  or  full  of 
spirits  than  he  was.  He  sang  a  good  song,  cracked  his 
joke,  and  was  the  life  of  the  company.  No  prosy 
speeches  would  he  allow,  for  he  said  time  was  precious 
at  that  hour  of  the  night,  and  he  was  determined  to 
make  the  most  of  it.  As  an  agreeable  relaxation,  he 
introduced  an  amusement  called  *  crambo,'  a  practice 
which  contributed  to  the  merriment  of  the  Lodge,  during 
the  hours  appropriated  to  refreshment,  for  many  years. 
You  don't  know  what  it  is?  Then  I'll  tell  you.  The 
Master  starts  the  game  with  a  line  of  poetry,  ending 
with  some  rhyme  which  is  capable  of  considerable  exten- 
sion ;  and  each  Brother,  under  a  fine — which  in  those 
days  was  an  extra  glass  of  punch — was  obliged  to  im- 
provise a  corresponding  verse  in  the  same  measure,  and 
terminating  in  the  same  jingle.  For  instance,  to  give 
you  an  example  in  point ;  one  evening,  after  supper,  the 
Brethren  were  in  a  merry  .cue,  and  the  game  commenced 
by  an  observation  of  the  Master  respecting  a  young  lady 
of  good  fortune,  a  friend  of  his,  whom  he  was  afraid  was 
about  to  sacrifice  herself  to  a  fellow  who  had  no  real 
regard  for  anything  but  her  money;  and  was  consulting 
with  his  friends  what  they  would  advise  as  the  most 
effectual  means  of  extricating  her  from  his  toils,  when 
the  following  crambonian  category  was  elicited  amidst 
roars  of  laughter : — 

"'His  name's  Mr.  Power,'  says  the  Master; 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          35 

"'Then  tell  Mr.  Power,'  Dr.  Anderson  began, 
"'That  she  has  no  dower,'  chimed  in  Bro.  Villeneau; 
"'And  he'll  speedily  cower,'  Bro.  Noyes  added; 
" '  And  droop  like  a  flower,'  said  Bro.  Gofton ; 
'"His  forehead  will  lower,'  Bro.  Morrice  snapped  in; 
'"And  he'll  look  very  sour,'  shouted  Bro.  Lamball, 
with  a  vociferous  ha!    ha!    ha! — in  which  the  whole 
company  participated  with  a  hearty  good-will. 

'"He'll  forsake  her  snug  bower,'  resumed  Bro.  De 
Vaux ; 

'"And  he'll  grin,  gape,  and  glower,'  said  Bro.  Revis, 
the  Grand  Secretary; 

'"He'll  be  off  in  an  hour,'  added  Bro.  Dr.  Schomberg; 
'"And  away  he  will  scour,'  replied  Bro.  Shergold ; 
'"Defying  her  power,'  lisped  Bro.  Sir  J.  Mansell,  in 
his  very  mild  tone  of  voice  ;  and  '  Well  done,  Mansell, — 
ha!  ha!  ha!'  made  the  glasses  on  the  supper-table  jingle 
with  the  concussion.1 

"The  Master  was  fond  of  a  song,  as  I  have  already 
observed,"  my  informant  continued;  "and,  as  hard  drink- 
ing was  the  vice  of  the  times,  the  following  chorus  was 
a  favourite  with  the  Lodge : — 

44  He  that  will  not  merry  merry  be. 
With  a  generous  bowl  and  a  toast, 
May  he  in  Bridewell  be  shut  up, 
And  fast  bound  to  a  post. 
Let  him  be  merry  merry  there, 
And  we'll  be  merry  merry  here ; 
For  who  does  know  where  we  shall  go, 
To  be  merry  another  year  !2 

1  In  the  old  MS.  from  which  much  of  the  above  "Revelations"  has 
been  extracted,  my  late  father,  the  Ilev.  S.  Oliver,  says,  that  when  a 
young  man  he  was  acquainted  with  an  aged  Mason,  who  was  initiated 
in  the  year  1740,  and  he  told  him  that  this  amusement  was  common 
in  the  Lodges  of  that  period.  And  he  gives  a  few  specimens, 
amongst  which  is  the  above.  I  subjoin  a  crambo  by  Dr.  Sheridan, 
the  friend  of  Swift,  under  date  of  1736,  which  is  somewhat  better : — 
"Oar  river  is  dry, 

And  fiery  the  sky: 

I  fret  and  I  fry, 

Just  ready  to  die; 

O,  where  shall  I  fly, 

From  Phoebus's  eye? 

In  bed  when  I  lie, 

I  soak  like  a  pie ; 

And  I  sweat,  and  I  sweat, 

Like  a  hog  in  a  sty !" 

The  French  Bouts  Rimes  were  something  similar  to  this. 
3  The  whole  song  may  be  found  in  the  Glasgow  edition  of  44  The 
Freemason's  Pocket  Companion,"  1771 


36          THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

"Thus  the  song,  the  toast,  the  jest,  and  merry  laugh 
passed  away  the  time  till  midnight  was  announced  from 
the  neighbouring  church  clock;  and  then  hats,  swords, 
and  canes  were  in  requisition,  for  the  party  was  broken 
up  at  once  by  the  Master's  'right  word  and  point  of  a 
Mason — Adieu.'  The  Lodge  prospered  under  his  judi- 
cious management. 

"While  embodying  these  transactions  in  your  imagi- 
nation, I  must  caution  you,"  said  the  Master's  Jewel, 
which  I  found  to  be  rather  facetiously  inclined,  "not  to 
raise  up  before  your  mind's  eye  an  assembly  of  Brethren 
habited  in  the  costume  to  which  you  have  been  habitu- 
ated ;  for  if  *you,  sir,  in  your  present  dress,  had  made 
your  appearance  among  them,  you  would  have  created 
shouts  of  more  extatic  laughter  than  either  punning  or 
crambo.  No,. sir,  you  must  see  them  as  they  actually 
were,  if  you  would  form  a  true  idea  of  the  scene.  They 
wore  square-cut  coats  and  long-flapped  waistcoats  with 
pockets  in  them;  the  coats  had  long  hanging  cuffs,  and 
the  skirts  were  stiffened  out  with  buckram  and  wire,  to 
show  the  hilt  of  the  sword.  They  had  lace  neckcloths 
and  ruffles;  blue  or  red  silk  stockings,  with  gold  or  silver 
clocks,  drawn  over  the  breeches  to  meet  the  pocket- 
flaps  ot  the  waistcoat,  and  gartered  below  the  knee; 
square-toed  and  short-quartered  shoes,  with  high  red 
heels  and  small  silver  buckles.  Then  they  had  on  vari- 
ous kinds  of  wigs,  and  small  three-cornered  hats  laced 
with  gold  or  silver,  and  trimmed  with  feathers;  all 
formal,  clean,  and  spruce,  and  in  every  respect  a  striking 
contrast  to  the  fashionable  costume  of  the  present  day.'* 
The  Square  then  proceeded  with  its  revelations. 

"  My  next  move  was  to  the  breast  of  a  very  showy  and 
self-sufficient  gentleman, — a  man  of  ample  fortune,  but 
very  superficial,  and  famous  for  nothing  but  his  versa- 
tility and  want  of  firmness.  He  seldom  knew  his  own 
mind  on  any  given  subject  whether  in  religion  or  poli- 
tics, for  eight  and  forty  hours  together.  To-day  he  was 
a  Whig,  to-morrow  a  Tory,  and  the  next  something  very 
different  from  both.  In  religion  he  was  sometimes  high 
church,  sometimes  low  church,  but  more  frequently 
neither  one  nor  the  other.  In  a  word,  he  was  unani- 
mously pronounced  a  universal  genius  !  I  have  known 
many  universal  geniuses  in  my  time,  though,  to  speak 
my  mind  freely,  I  never  knew  one  who,  for  the  ordinary 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          37 

purposes  oflife,  was  worth  his  weight  in  straw;  but,  for 
the  government  of  a  Lodge,  a  little  sound  judgment  and 
plain  common  sense  is  worth  all  the  sparkling  genius 
that  ever  wrote  poetry  or  invented  theories.  He  was 
exceedingly  fond  of  trying  philosophical  and  political 
experiments;  and  having  stuffed  his  head  full  of  scraps 
and  remnants  of  ancient  republics,  and  oligarchies,  and 
aristocracies,  and  monarchies,  and  the  laws  of  Solon,  and 
Lycurgus,  and  Charondas,  and  the  imaginary  common- 
wealth of  Plato,  and  the  pandects  of  Justinian,  and  a 
thousand  other  fragments  of  venerable  antiquity,  he  was 
for  ever  bent  upon  introducing  some  one  or  other  of  them 
into  use;  so  that  between  one  contradictory  measure 
and  another,  he  entangled  the  government  of  the  Lodge 
in  more  knots  during  his  administration  than  half-a-dozen 
successors  could  have  untied.3 

"  He  had  been  a  Junior  Warden  under  Dr.  Desaguliers ; 
but  that  discerning  Brother  entertained  some  doubts 
whether  his  pretensions  were  sterling,  and,  therefore,  hesi- 
tated to  promote  him  to  a  higher  and  more  responsible 
office.  His  imperfections,  soon  manifested  themselves, 
and  the  Brethren  who  placed  him  in  the  chair  lived  to 
repent  of  their  choice.  He  formed  several  magnificent 
schemes  for  the  advancement  of  Masonry,  but  did  not 
possess  sufficient  stability  to  carry  them  into  effect ;  like 
the  Dutch  mountebank  who  took  a  run  of  three  miles  to 
leap  over  a  hill,  but  changing  his  mind  during  this  prelimi- 
nary step,  when  he  arrived  at  its  foot,  he  sat  quietly 
down  and  declared  himself  unable  to  accomplish  the 
feat.  Or  like  the  Uperephanos  of  Brathwait, 

"  He  still  thought, 

That  the  world  without  him  Avould  be  brought  to  nought, 
For  when  the  dogge-starre  raged,  he  used  to  cry, 
'  No  other  Atlas  has  the  world  but  I. 
I  am  only  Hee,  supports  the  state ; 
Cements  divisions,  shuts  up  Janus'  gate  ; 
Improves  the  public  frame,  chalks  out  the  way 
How  princes  should  command — subjects  obey—- 
Nought passes  my  discovery,  for  my  sense 
Extends  itself  to  all  intelligence.'  " 

5  A  passage  similar  to  the  above  may  be  found  in  Knickerbocker's 
description  of  William  the  Testy;  and  we  must  leave  it  to  the  reader 
to  determine  whether  Washington  Irving  had  it  by  communication 
with  our  Frta(jia/u.af  or  whether  we  copied  it  from  him. 


88  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

"This  wonderful  man  piqued  himself  on  his  oratorical 
powers,  and  frequently  weaned  the  patience  of  the 
Brethren  by  his  dull  and  unmeaning  harangues  on  the 
most  trifling  subjects.  I  remember  on  one  occasion 
some  topic  was  under  discussion — I  think  it  was  on  the 
proprietry  of  masonic  processions — which  had  been  a 
fruitful  subject  of  ridicule  to  the  wits  of  London.  A 
great  difference  of  opinion  prevailed  amongst  the  Craft 
on  this  question,  and  our  Lodge  was  so  nicely  balanced 
in  point  of  numbers,  pro  and  con,  that  any  Master  of  com- 
mon understanding  would  have  found  no  difficulty  in 
turning  the  scale  in  favour  of  his  own  views,  on  which 
side  soever  it  might  be.  In  this  exigency  what  did  our 
sapient  Master  do?  Why,  he  made  a  speech,  in  which 
he  took  a  view  of  the  arguments  on  both  sides  of  the 
question,  and  proceeding  carefully  by  the  strictest  rules 
of  logic,  and  a  display  of  the  soundest  erudition,  but  all 
to  no  purpose,  he  balanced  them  so  equally  that  every 
Brother  in  the  Lodge  congratulated  himself  that  his 
opinions  would  be  triumphant;  and  when  the  Master  sat 
down,  I  heard  him  whisper  to  a  Brother  on  his  right 
hand,  '  Now,  do  you  know,  from  what  I  have  said,  which 
side  of  the  question  my  own  opinion  favours?' — *  Indeed,  I 
confess  myself  at  a  loss  to  determine.' — *  Then  I  have 
accomplished  my  point,'  replied  this  sapient  officer,  '  for 
my  ambition  was  to  make  a  speech  which  should  please 
both  parties.'  And  when  the  question  was  put  to  the 
vote,  he  found  himself  in  a  minority.  Not  very  compli- 
mentary to  his  tact  and  judgment,  was  it? 

"Our  politic  Master  was,  at  this  time,  building  a  hand- 
some mansion  at  the  west  end  of  the  town,  and  when  it 
was  nearly  completed,  he  boasted  one  evening,  in  a  set 
speech,  of  the  pure  Augustan  style  in  which  his  dining- 
room  was  to  be  finished  and  decorated,  in  all  the  antique 
splendour  that  Gothic  architecture  could  furnish.  It 
was  to  be  a  perfect  gem;  .and  in  the  peroration  of  his 
speech,  he  announced  his  intention  of  opening  it  with  a 
grand  masonic  dinner,  to  which  he  invited  all  the  mem- 
bers then  present.  The  announcement  was,  of  course, 
received  with  cheers.  Amidst  the  acclamations  of  the 
Lodge  he  sat  down,  and  a  Brother  whispered  in  his  ear, 
'When  do  you  think  it  will  be  finished?' — 'Never  for 
that  purpose,'  replied  the  Master. 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  39 

"This  erudite  chief  had  concocted  a  notable  scheme 
for  distinguishing  his  year  of  office  as  a  remarkable 
epoch,  which  had  caused  him  more  anxiety  to  bring  into 
a  disposable  form,  than  any  other  subject  he  was  ever 
known  to  entertain.  It  was  an  invention  peculiarly  his 
own,  and  he  plumed  himself  upon  it  with  more  than 
common  pride.  In  introducing  it  to  the  notice  of  the 
Lodge,  his  opening  speech  was  flowery  and  rhetorical. 
He  denominated  his  plan  a  grand  panacea  which  would 
obviate  all  objections  to  Masonry,  and  create  a  universal 
sensation  in  its  favor.  *  The  idea,'  he  said,  *  is  novel, 
pleasing,  and  practicable  ;  it  has  never  entered  the  head  of 
mortal  Mason,  and  I  am  the  only  individual  who  has  been 
inspired  with  the  vast  design.  My  star  is  in  the  ascend- 
ant,-and  I  do  not  doubt  but  a  niche  in  the  temple  of 
fame  is  reserved  for  me,  as  the  author  of  a  magnificent 
project,  which  will  render  Freemasonry  the  envy  of  all 
other  social  institutions.' 

"  He  went  on  in  this  style  for  a  considerable  length  of 
time,  the  Brethren  waiting  with  commendable  patience 
for  the  development  of  his  proposal.  And  what  do  you 
think  it  was  ?  You  cannot  guess,  and  so  I  may  as  well 
tell  you  at  once ;  it  was  a  MASONIC  BALL  ! ! !  The  Breth- 
ren were  taken  by  surprise  at  this  unexpected  announce- 
ment, so  alien  to  the  genuine  principles  of  Masonry,  and 
scarcely  knew  what  to  say.  After  they  had  recollected 
themselves  by  a  pause  of  a  few  minutes'  duration,  the  ab- 
surdity of  the  proposal  struck  them  as  so  perfectly 
ridiculous,  that,  though  from  motives  of  decorum  and 
respect  for  the  Chair,  they  endeavoured  to  stifle  their 
sense  of  the  ludicrous,  the  effort  was  unsuccessful,  and 
they  gave  vent  to  their  feelings  by  a  loud  and  universal 
peal  of  laughter,  which  they  found  it  impossible  to  re- 
strain. 

"'A  what?'  shouted  Bro.  Lamball,  *  A  masonic  ball?' 
which  was  succeeded  by  another  general  laugh.  And 
Bro.  Villeneau  repeated  the  lines  from  Phaedrus  : 

*Mons  parturibat,  gemitus  immanes  ciene; 
Eratque  in  terris  maxima  ex  spectatio ; 
At  ille  murem  pepcrit ;' 

which  was  the  signal  for  cachinnation  the  third. 
3 


40          THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

"  *  On  what  law  of  Masonry  do  you  found  the  legality 
of  your  scheme?'  said  Bro.  Morris. 

"  The  R.  W.  M.  was  unable  to  furnish  either  law  or 
precedent  for  his  delectable  scheme,  and,  therefore,  he 
staved  off  the  enquiry  by  demanding  in  return:  'On 
what  law  do  vou  found  the  legality  of  Refreshment?' 

'"On  the  second  clause  of  the  sixth  Ancient  Charge,' 
said  Bro.  Morris. 

"  At  length  Bro.  Desaguliers,  who  happened  to  be  pre- 
sent, rose  with  great  gravity,  and  addressing  the  Chair, 
said: 

"'R.  W.  Sir,  the  proposal  you  have  just  submitted  to 
the  Lodge  is  so  thoroughly  alien  to  the  principles  of  Ma- 
sonry, that  I  am  scarcely  surprised  at  the  indecorous 
exhibition  we  have  just  witnessed,  but  which,  I  hope,  for 
the  credit  of  the  Lodge,  will  never  be  repeated  while  the 
S.  Warden's  column  is  in  the  ascendant.  Supposing,  for 
the  sake  of  argument,  that  the  Brethren  were  inclined  to 
indulge  you  by  acceding  to  your  unprecedented  proposi- 
tion, they  would  be  incapable  of  executing  the  design, 
without  committing  a  gross  violation  of  the  general  Con- 
stitutions of  the  Order.  Are  you  aware,  R.  W.  Sir,  that 
a  standing  law  provides  that  it  is  not  in  the  power  of  any 
man,  or  body  of  men,  to  make  any  alteration  or  innova- 
tion in  the  body  of  Masonry,  without  the  consent  first 
obtained  of  the  Grand  Lodge?  and  this,  Sir  and  Brother, 
would  be  an  innovation  which  no  Grand  Lodge  could 
ever  be  found  to  sanction  or  approve.' 

"After  Dr.  Desaguliers  had  thus  expressed  a  decided 
negative  opinion  on  the  subject,  the  Master,  sufficiently 
mortified,  withdrew,  his  motion,  and  we  never  again 
heard  of  the  anomaly  of  a  masonic  ball. 

"But  a  truce  to  this  gossip.  I  turn  to  the  literary 
proceedings  of  the  period,  for  I  was  now  appropriated  by 
the  celebrated  Martin  Clare,  A.  M.,  F.  A.  S.,  D.  G.  M. 
in  1741,  who  had  already  distinguished  himself  by  his 
zeal  and  intelligence  on  several  occasions,  and  had  done 
good  service  to  Masonry  by  an  address,  which  has  been 
already  referred  to.  In  this  document  he  made  a  few 
observations  on  those  improprieties  which  are  most  likely 
to  discompose  the  harmony  of  a  Lodge ;  arid  then  pro- 
ceeded to  show  at  large  what  the  errors  and  deviations 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          41 


by  a  society 
brotherhood, 


were  which  it  would  be  desirable  to  avoid 
of  gentlemen,    united   by   the    bonds   of 
and  under  the  strictest  ties  of  mutual  love  and  forbear- 
ance. 

"  His  grave  and  quiet  method  of  delivery  made  a  strong 
impression  on  the  audience ;  and  its  conclusion,  in  these 
impressive  words,  was  received  with  loud  approbation : 
'It  has  been  long,'  said  he,  'and  still  is,  the  glory  and 
happiness  of  this  Society,  to  have  its  interests  espoused 
by  the  great,  the  noble,  and  the  honoured  of  the  land. 
Persons  who*  after  the  example  of  the  wisest  and  the 
grandest  of  kings,  esteem  it  neither  condescension  nor 
dishonour  to  patronize  and  encourage  the  professors  of 
the  Craft.  It  is  our  duty,  in  return,  to  do  nothing  incon- 
sistent with  this  favour ;  and,  being  members  of  this 
body,  it  becomes  us  to  act  in  some  degree  suitable  to  the 
.honour  we  receive  from  our  illustrious  head.  If  this  be 
done  at  our  general  meetings,  every  good  and  desirable 
end  will  very  probably  be  promoted  among  us.  The 
Craft  will  have  the  advantage  of  being  governed  by 
good,  wholesome,  and  dispassionate  laws;  the  business 
of  the  Grand  Lodge  will  be  smoothly  and  effectually 
carried  on :  your  Grand  Officers  will  communicate  their 
sentiments,  and  receive  your  opinions  and  advice  with 
pleasure  and  satisfaction ;  particular  societies  will  become 
still  more  regular,  from  what  their  representatives  should 
observe  here.  In  a  word,  true  and  ancient  Masonry  will 
flourish ;  and  those  that  are  without,  will  soon  come  to 
know  that  there  are  more  substantial  pleasures  to  be 
found,  as  well  as  greater  advantages  to  be  reaped,  in  our 
Society,  orderly  conducted,  than  can  possibly  be  met 
with  in  any  other  bodies  of  men,  how  magnificent  soever 
their  pretensions  may  be ;  for  none  can  be  so  amiable  as 
that  which  promotes  brotherly  love,  and  fixes  that  as  the 
grand  cement  of  all  our  actions;  to  the  performance  of 
which  we  are  bound  by  an  obligation,  both  solemn  and 
awful,  and  that  entered  into  by  our  free  and  delibe- 
rate choice;  and  as  it  is  to  direct  our  lives  and  actions,  it 
can  never  be  too  often  repeated,  nor  too  frequently  in- 
culcated.' 

"  At  this  time  rumours  were  whispered  in  the  Metro- 
politan Lodges,  that  the  Order  was  subjected  to  great 


42         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

persecutions  in  Switzerland,4  Germany,5  Italy,6  France7 
and  Holland  ;8  and  that  edicts  and  decrees  were  thundered 
out  against  it  in  all  those  countries;  and  although  it  was 
admitted  that  nothing  had  been  discovered  in  the  beha- 
viour or  practices  of  the  Fraternity  contrary  to  the  public 
peace,  or  to  the  duty  of  good  subjects,  yet  the  several 
governments  were,  nevertheless,  determined  that  the 
Lodges  of  Freemasons  should  be  entirely  abolished. 

"  These  unprecedented  measures  excited  in  the  English 
Fraternity  such  a  feeling  of  disgust,  that  a  few  influen- 
tial Brethren  united  themselves  together  for  the  purpose 
of  considering  what  would  be  the  most  eligible  and 
effectual  method  of  showing  the  utter  absurdity  and 
impolicy  of  such  a  line  of  conduct ;  and  in  1739  a  pam- 

4  The  magistrates  of  Berne  issued  an  ordinance  in  these  words : — 
"We  do,  by  these  presents,  henceforth  and  for  ever  forbid,  annul, 
and  abolish  the  Societies  of  Freemasons  in  all  our  territories  and  dis- 
tricts, to  all  persons  that  now  are,  or  shall  hereafter  come  into  our 
dominions ;  and  we  do  ordain  and  decree,  that  ah1  those  our  citizens 
and  subjects  who  are  actually  known  to  be  Freemasons,  shall  be 
obliged  immediately  to  abjure  by  oath  the  engagement  they  have 
taken  in  the  said  society  without  delay.     And  all  persons  who  shall 
frequent  such  assemblies  shall  bo  subject  to  a  fine  of  100  crowns 
without  remission,  and  be  incapable  of  holding  any  place  of  trust, 
benefit,  or  employment  whatever." 

5  The  persecutions  in  Germany  were  occasioned  by  the  jealousy  of 
some  ladies  belonging  to  the  court,  Avho  being  disappointed  in  their 
endeavours  to  obtain  a  knowledge  of  the  secret  through  the  agency 
of  certain  persons  whom  they  induced  -to  be  initiated  for  that  purpose, 
inflamed  the  mind  of  the  empress  against  the  society.     But  the  per- 
secution was  defeated  by  the  emperor  himself,  who  undertook  to  be 
responsible  for  the  conduct  of  the  Masons  in  their  Lodges,  and  to 
redress  any  grievances  of  which  they  were  found  guilty. 

6  A  papal  Bull  of  this  period  (1738)  commanded  all  persons  to 
abstain  from  the  society  of  Freemasons,  under  a  penalty  of  1,000 
crowns  of  gold,  and  incurring  excommunication  ip so  facto,  from  which 
no  one  was  able  to  give  absolution  but  the  Pope  himself. 

7  In  the  year  1737  a  persecution  was  commenced,  under  the  plea 
that  the  pretence  of  secrecy  might  be  used  to  cover  some  dangerous 
design  which  might  affect  the  religion,  the  peace,  and  prosperity  ot 
the  kingdom. 

8  An  edict  was  issued  by  the  States  of  Holland,  intimating  that  al- 
though they  had  not  discovered  anything  in  the  behaviour  or  practice 
of  the  Freemasons  contrary  to  the  peace  of  the  republic,  or 'to  the 
duty  of  good  subjects,  they  were  resolved,  nevertheless,  to  prevent 
any  bad  consequences  that  might  ensue  from  such  conventions,  andj 
therefore,  commanded  that  they  should  be  entirely  abolished. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          43 

phlet,  written  in  French,  was  published  in  Dublin,9 
under  the  title  of  '  An  Apology  for  the  Society  of  Free- 
masons.' It  appeared  in  the  same  year  in  an  English 
form,  translated,  as  was  generally  supposed,  by  Martin 
Clare.  It  created  a  great  sensation,  and  promoted  the 
translator  to  the  office  of  D.  G.  M.  He  had  been  already 
officially  authorized  to  revise  the  Lodge  Lectures,  and  to 
make  such  alterations  and  improvements  as,  in  his  judg- 
ment, the  present  state  of  the  Order  might  require, 
always  preserving  inviolate  the  ancient  landmarks.  And 
his  version  of  the  Lectures  was  so  judiciously  drawn  up-, 
that  its  practice  was  enjoined  on  all  the  Lodges  under 
the  Constitution  of  England  ;  and  all  former  Lectures 
were  abrogated,  and  pronounced  obsolete. 

"  In  this  formula,  the  symbol  of  a  point  within  a  circle 
was  introduced  for  the  first  time ;  and  it  is  a  singular 
fact,  that  although  the  original  interpretation  was  simple 
enough,  yet  several  meanings  were  soon  attached  to  it 
by  fanciful  expositors,  differing  in  reference,  but  agreeing 
in  fact.  And  this  diversity  of  opinion,  as  I  should 
conceive,"  my  companion  added,  with  some  allusion  to 
my  own  individual  judgment,  "  constitutes  one  of  the 
peculiar  excellences  of  the  Craft ;  for,  however  the  defi- 
nition may  have  been  amplified  and  extended,  the  results, 
when  the  several  arguments  were  wound  up  and  applied, 
pretty  nearly  corresponded  with  the  original  application 
of  Martin  Clare.  For  whether  the  point  be  Time,  as 
some  think,  and  the  circle  Eternity,  or  whether  the 
former  be  an  individual  Mason  circumscribed  by  the 
circle  of  virtue,  the  result  will  be  the  same ;  for  virtue 
is  boundless  as  universal  space  ;  and  as  the  body  of  man 
may  be  accounted  a  fit  representative  of  Time,  so  is  his 
soul  of  Eternity.  In  the  same  Lectures,  the  numbers  3, 
5,  and  7,  were  applied,  in  strict  conformity  with  ancient 
usage,  to  the  Trinity,  the  Senses,  and  the  Institution  of  a 
Sabbath.  The  Jewish  Masons  subsequently  (for  we  had 
no  Hebrews  amongst  us  at  that  period),  repudiated  this 
primitive  application,  and  substituted  the  following: — 

9  "An  Apology  for  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  occasioned  by 
their  persecution  in  the  Canton  of  Berne ;  with  the  present  state  of 
Masonry  in  Germany,  Italy,  France,  Flanders,  and  Holland.  By  J. 
G.,  D.M.F.M."  Dublin,  Patrick  Odoroko,  1739. 


44  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUA11E. 

*  Three  rule  a  Lodge, — in  allusion  to  the  most  sacred 
parts  of  the  Temple  of  Solomon ;  viz.,  the  Porch,  the 
Holy  Place,  and  the  Holy  of  Holies.  Five  hold  a  Lodge, 
in  reference  to  the  sacred  treasures  ol  the  Sanctum  Sanc- 
torum, viz.,  the  Ark  of  Alliance,  the  Golden  Censer,  the 
Sacred  Roll,  the  Rod  of  Aaron,  and  the  Pot  of  Manna. 
Seven  make  a  Lodge  perfect,  in  allusion  to  the  seven 
chief  Degrees  conferred  by  King  Solomon,  and  to  the 
years  employed  in  building  the  Temple.' 

"At  the  Grand  Lodge,  when  Martin  Clare  was  ap- 
pointed Deputy  Grand  Master,  I  recollect  perfectly  well 
the  Festival  was  celebrated  in  Haberdashers'  Hall,  March 
19,  1741,  several  old  Masons  being  present,  including 
Past  Grand  Masters  Payne,  Desaguliers,  the  Earls  of 
London  and  Darnley,  and  the  Marquis  of  Caernarvon, 
with  a  numerous  train  of  noble  and  worthy  Brothers, 
and  several  distinguished  foreign  members  of  the  Craft. 
The  twelve  Stewards,  and  a  great  number  of  other  Breth- 
ren, in  their  proper  clothing,  waited  on  the  Earl  of 
Morton,  Grand  Master  Elect,  at  his  house  in  New  Bond 
Street ;  and  after  being  there  entertained  at  breakfast,  had 
a  public  procession  to  Haberdashers'  Hall,  in  carriages, 
attended  by  three  bands  of  music.  At  the  Hall  gate,  the 
Stewards  received  the  cavalcade,  and  conducted  the 
Grand  Officers  through  the  Hall  into  an  inner  chamber, 
the  Deputy  Grand  Master  carrying  the  Grand  Master's 
Jewel.  Here  the  Grand  Lodge  was  opened,  and  our 
friend  Martin  Clare  was  publicly  complimented  by  the 
Grand  Master,  and  also  by  Bros.  Payne  and  Desaguliers, 
the  latter  of  whom  moved  a  vote  of  thanks  to  him  for 
his  new  version  of  the  Lectures,  in  which  he  pronounced 
them  to  be  a  lively  elucidation  of  the  most  ancient 
method  of  working  a  Lodge. 

"The  above  ceremonial,  and  another  of  the  same  kind 
in  the  following  year,  each  of  which  was  attended  with 
a  public  .procession  in  coaches,  originated  a  caricature 
and  broadside,  which  were  published  in  ridicule  of  the 
proceedings.  The  former  was  entitled,  '  The  solemn  and 
stately  Procession  of  the  Scald  Miserable  Masons,  as  it 
was  martialed  on  Thursday,  the  18th  day  of  this  instant 
April;'  and  the  latter  was  headed,  'A  geometrical  view 
of  the  Grand  Procession  of  the  Scald  Miserable  Masons, 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         45 

designed  as  they  were  drawn  up  over  against  Somerset 
House  in  the  Strand,  on  the  27th  day  of  April,  1742.'10 
And  what  sort  of  a  procession  do  you  think  it  was? 
You  shall  hear. 

"First  came  two  Tylers,  in  yellow  cockades  and  live- 
ries ;  then  the  Apprentices,  armed  with  drawn  swords  to 
keep  off  all  cowans  and  listeners;  after  which  came  the 
band  of  music,  consisting  of  four  cows'  horns,  as  many 
tea-canisters,  filled  with  broken  glass,  four  shovels  beaten 
with  brushes,  two  double-bass  dripping-pans,  a  frying- 
pan,  a  salt-box,  arid  a  pair  of  tubs  for  kettle-drums. 
Then  followed  six  lean  horses  with  funeral  habiliments, 
and  the  arms  of  Hiram  Abiff,  a  brick  waggon  for  a  hearse, 
on  which  was  a  bier  of  tubs  covered  with  a  chimney- 
sweeper's cloth,  and  on  each  side  was  a  double  rank  of 
Brethren,  bearing  escutcheons,  and  other  funereal  sym- 
bols.11 After  this  came  another  band  of  music  similar  to 
the  above,  the  performers  being  mounted  upon  donkeys. 
Then  the  Grand  Sword  Bearers  preceding  the  Grand 
Master12  in  a  dust-cart,  and  followed  by  the  Grand  Offi- 

10  A  few  additional  passages  in  this  amusing  paper,  which  produced 
a  great  deal  of  uproarious  inirth  amongst  the  Fraternity  at  the  time, 
may  not  be  unacceptable  by  way  of  note.     It  commenced  with  a 
"  Remonstrance  of  the  Right  Worshipful  the  Grand  Master  of  the 
Scald  Miserable  Masons,  in  which  he  claims  a  seniority  over  all  other 
societies,  whether  Grand  Volgi,  Gregorians,  Hurlothrumbians,  Ubi- 
quarians,  Hiccubites,  Lumber  Troopers,  or  Freemasons;  and  dis- 
claims all  relation  or  alliance  whatsoever  with  the  latter  Society, 
because,  as  he  asserts,  it  would  tend  to  the  sacrifice  of  his  own  dig- 
nity, the  impeachment  of  his  understanding,  and  the  disgrace  of  his 
solemn  mysteries." 

11  The  entire  description  runs  thus :  "  Six  stately  unfledged  horses, 
with  funeral  habiliments  and  caparisons,  carrying  escutcheons  of  the 
arms  of  Hyram  Abyff ;  viz.,  a  Master's  Lodge,  drawing,  in  a  limping, 
halting  posture,  with  solemn  pomp,  a  superb  open  hearse,  nine  feet 
long,  four  feet  wide,  and  having  a  clouded  canopy,  inches  and  feet 
innumerable  in  perpendicular  height,  very  nearly  resembling  a  brick 
waggon.     In  the  midst,  upon  a  throne  of  tubs  raised  for  that  pur- 
pose, lays  the  corpse  in. a  coffin,  cut  out  of  one  entire  ruby ;  but,  for 
decency's  sake  is  covered  with  a  chimney-sweeper's  stop  cloth,  at  the 
head  a  memorable  sprig  of  cassia.  Around  in  mournful  order  placed, 
the  loving,  weeping  Brethren  sit  with  their  aprons — their  gloves  they 
have  put  in  their  pockets;  at  the  top  and  at  bottom,  on  every  side, 
and  everywhere  all  round  about,   this  open  hearse  is  bestuck  with 
escutcheons  and   streamers,  some  bearing  the  arms,  and  some  his 
crest." 

13  "The  equipage  of  the  G.  M.,"  so  runs  the  document,  "being 


I 


46         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

cers13  in  carts,  each  drawn  by  four  donkeys ;  the  proces- 
sion closing  with  probationists  and  candidates. 

"  This  good-natured  burlesque  afforded  the  Craft  much 
amusement;  but  in  the  year  1745  it  was  followed  by  an 
actual  procession,  got  up  by  some  unfaithful  Brethren 
who  had  been  disappointed  in  their  expectations  of  the 
high  offices  and  honours  of  Masonry,  and  had  enlisted  a 
number  of  low  characters  and  buffoons  in  a  scheme  to 
exhibit  a  mockery  of  the  public  processions  of  the  Craft. 
But  while  these  proceedings  were  a  source  of  mirth  to 
the  gaping  crowd,  the  Fraternity  were  disgusted,  and 
determined  in  future  to  confine  their  operations  within 
the  limits  of  their  own  assembly ;  and  the  Grand  Festi- 
val itself  was  suspended  for  several  years. 

"At  one  of  our  Lodges  during  the  Mastership  of 
Martin  Clare,  a  question  was  mooted  respecting  the 
meaning  of  the  sixth  Ancient  Charge :  *  No  private 
piques,  no  quarrels  about  nations,  families,  religions,  or 
olitics,  must  be  brought  within  the  door  of  the  Lodge ; 
br,  as  Masons,  we  are  of  the  oldest  Catholic  religion  above 
hinted ;'  which  refers  to  the  following  passage  in  the  first 
Charge :  *  In  ancient  times  the  Christian  Masons  were 
charged  to  comply  with  the  Christian  usages  of  each 
country,  where  they  travelled  or  worked ;  but  Masonry 
being  found  in  all  nations,  even  of  divers  religions,  they 

neatly  nasty,  delicately  squalid,  and  magnificently  ridiculous  beyond 
all  human  bounds  and  conceivings.  On  the  right  the  G.  M.  Pony^  with 
compasses  for  his  Jewel,  appendant  to  a  blue  ribbon  round  his  neck.  On 

the  left,  his  Excellency Jack,  with  a  square  hanging  to  a  white 

ribbon,  as  G.  M.  elect;  the  Hon.  Nic.  Baboon,  Esq.,  S.  G.  W.,  with 
his  Jewel,  being  the  Level,  all  of  solid  gold  and  blue  ribbon ;  Mr. 
Balaam  von  Asinam,  J.  G.  W.,  with  his  Jewel,  the  Plum-Eule." 

13  '•''Attendants  of  honour.  The  G.  Sw.  B.  carrying  the  Sword  of 
State.  It  is  worth  observing  that  this  sword  was  sent  as  a  present 
by  Ishmael  Abiff,  a  relation  in  direct  descent  to  poor  old  Hyram, 
King  of  the  Saracens,  to  his  Grace  of  Watlin,  G.  M.  of  the  Holy 
Lodge  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem  in  Clerkenwell,  who  stands  upon  our 
list  of  -Grand  Masters  for  the  same  year.  The  G.  Sec.  with  his  in- 
signia, &c.  Tickets  to  be  had  for  3  megs  a  carcass  to  scran  the 
paunum  boxes,  at  the  Lodge  in  Brick  Street,  &c.  NOTE. — No  gen- 
tlemen's coaches  or  whole  garments  are  admitted  in  our  procession  or 
at  the  feast."  Copies  of  the  caricature  have  been  published  by  Hone 
in  England,  and  Clavel  in  France;  the  former  professing  to  have 
taken  his  version  from  the  original  Broadside :  and  the  latter  from 
the  collection  of  Bro.  Morison  of  Greenfield,  but  they  differ  in  many 
essential  particulars. 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  47 

are  now  only  charged  to  adhere  to  that  religion  in  which 
all  men  agree."114 

"  A  Brother  present  opened  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer,*  which  was  always  in  the  Lodge,  and  explained 
the  phrase,  oldest  Catholic  religion,  by  a  reference  to  the 
Te  Deum  composed  in  the  4th  century  by  St.  Ambrose — 
*  The  Holy  Church  throughout  all  the  world  doth  acknow- 
ledge Thee  ;'  concluding  that  it  must  mean  Christianity, 
which  was  typified  in  the  two  earliest  dispensations 
known  in  the  world,  viz.,  those  of  the  Patriarchs  and  the 
Jews  ;  when  Martin  Clare  delivered  his  opinion  in  words 
to  the  following  effect :  *  I  have  had  several  long  and 
interesting  conversations  with  Bros.  Payne,  Desaguliers, 
and  Anderson  on  this  very  subject :  and  it  is  evident 
from  their  researches,  that  the  belief  of  our  ancient 
Brethren  favoured  the  opinion  that  Masonry  is  essentially 
Christian  ;  that  it  is  indebted  to  Christianity  for  its 
principles ;  that  in  all  ages  the  English  Fraternity  con- 
sisted exclusively  of  Christians ;  and  that,  therefore,  the 
religion  in  which  all  men  agree  was  the  Christian  reli- 
gion. The  ancient  Charges,  which  are  now  before  us, 
were  extracted  from  old  masonic  records  of  Lodges,  not 
only  in  Great  Britain,  but  in  foreign  countries;  and  at 
the  time  when  those  records  were  originally  compiled, 
the  religion  in  which  all  men  agreed  was  the  general  re- 
ligion of  Christendom — of  the  Holy  Church  throughout 
all  the  world,  which,  as  has  justly  been  observed,  the  Te 
Deum  pronounces  to  be  Christianity.  The  most  ancient 
manuscript  which  passed  through  the  hands  of  Bros. 
Desaguliers  and  Anderson  during  their  researches,  gives 
a  decided  affirmation  to  this  doctrine,  as  may  be  gathered 
from  the  following  passage  : 

Bysechynge  hym  of  hys  hyc  grace, 

To  stonde  with  zow  yn  every  place, 

To  conferme  the  statutes  of  kyiige  Adelston, 

That  he/  ordeynt  to  thys  Craft  by  good  reson, 

Pray  we  now  to  God  almyght, 

And  to  hys  swete  moder  Mary  bryght, 

That  we  mowe  kepe  these  artyculus  here, 

And  these  poyntes  wel  al  y-fere, 

*  *  *  #  * 

And  as  thou  were  of  a  mayd  y-bore, 
Sofre  me  never  to  be  y-lore ; 

."  See.  the  Ancient  Charges  in  '*  Anderson's  Const,1'     Ed.  1738. 
3* 


48  THE    RE  ABLATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

But  when  y  schal  hennus  wende, 
Grante  me  the  blysse  withoute  ende ; 
Amen !  amen !  so  mot  hyt  be. 

This  manuscript  is  supposed  to  have  been  compiled  in 
the  time  of  Athelstan,  and  I  should,  therefore,  conceive 
its  authority  to  be  decisive.' 

"In  the  above-mentioned  year  I  had  passed  to  a  new 
Master  and  a  new  Lodge ;  and  the  first  conversation  I 
heard  was  on  the  subject  of  a  pretended  revelation  of 
Martin  Clare's  revised  lectures  and  ceremonies,  in  a 
book  called  '  The  Testament  of  a  Mason  ;'15  where  it  was 
feigned  that  the  formula  had  been  found  amongst  the 
papers  of  a  deceased  Brother  high  in  office,  and,  conse- 
quently, might  fairly  be  presumed  to  contain  the  real 
secrets  of  the  Order.  •  The  question  was  asked,  Who  is 
the  author  ?  and  it  was  subsequently  traced  to  one  of 
the  unfaithful  Brothers  who  had  been  disappointed 
in  his  expectations  of  being  nominated  to  a  Grand 
Office. 

"  During  the  same  year,  if  my  memory  be  faithful,  a 
Brother  was  introduced  into  our  Lodge,  whose  name  was 
Coustos.  He  was  a  foreigner,  and  not  wanting  in 
assurance.  A  great  sensation,  however,  was  created, 
when  he  exhibited  some  scars  which  betokened  very 
severe  wounds,  that  had  been  inflicted,  as  he  affirmed,  by 
torture  in  the  Inquisition,  at  Lisbon,  to  extort  from  him 
the  secrets  of  Freemasonry.  It  appeared,  by  his  own 
account,  that  he  had  resisted  both  persuasion  and  force ; 
and  that  his  final  escape  out  of  their  hands  was  owing  to 
the  interposition  of  the  British  Consul.  Subscriptions 
were  entered  into  in  order  to  enable  the  sufferer  to  pub- 
lish his  account  of  the  whole  affair,  which  accordingly 
came  out  in  the  following  year,  and  put  a  considerable 
sum  of  money  into  his  pocket."16 

15  "The  Testament  of  a  Freemason ;  ou,  le  Testament  de  Chevalier 
Graaf."  Brussels,  1745. 

™  "  The  sufferings  of  John  Coustos  for  Freemasonry,  and  for  re- 
fusing to  turn  Iloman  Catholic,  in  the  Inquisition  at  Lisbon."  London, 
1746.  Bode,  1779.  Birmingham,  1790.  Hull,  1811.  London, 
Spencer,  1847. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE    SCHISM. DR.    MANNINGHAM. 

1747—1760. 


**  She  teacheth  Temperance  and  Prudence,  Justice  and  Fortitude, 
which  are  such  things  as  men  can  have  nothing  more  profitable  in 
their  life."— SOLOMON. 

*'  Thys  booke  is  not  for  every  rude  and  unconnynge  man  to  see, 
but  to  clerkys  and  very  gentylmen  that  understands  gentylnes  and 
scyence." — CAXTON. 

"Conscia  mens  recti  famse  mendacia  ridet." — OVID. 


"I  HAVE  been  thinking,  sir,"  the  Square  continued, 
"how  very  extraordinary  it  is  that  the  French  Masons, 
as  intelligence  was  brought  over  to  this  country  from 
time  to  time,  should  have  been  so  blind  to  the  truth,  or 
so  ignorant  of  the  legitimate  principles  of  our  divine 
Order,  as  to  have  instituted  infidel  societies  in  many  of 
their  chief  cities,  and  invested  them  with  the  name  of 
Masonry ;  for  such  were  the  various  Elus  or  Elected 
Masons,  as  they  styled  themselves,  which  about  this 
time  were  springing  up,  like  noxious  weeds,  all  over  the 
continent  of  Europe.  But  it  is  still  more  strange  that 
any  of  the  English  Fraternity  should  have  been  so  indis- 
creet as  to  have  admitted  their  claims  to  brotherhood. 
In  the  year  1747,  one  of  our  members  produced  in  the 
Lodge  a  pamphlet  which  had  just  made-  its  appearance 
in  London,  as  a  translation  from  the  French,  professing 
to  reveal  the  veritable  secrets  of  the  Order,1  by  describing 
the  revised  Lectures  and  ceremonies ;  and  was,  in  fact, 
a  catchpenny  publication,  written  to  pander  to  the  mor- 
bid appetites  of  the  curious,  who  are  ever  in  search  of 
the  means  of  procuring  illegitimate  and  doubtful  intelli- 

1  "  L'Adepte  Macon,  or  the  true  secret  of  the  Freemasons."  Lon- 
don, 1747. 


50          THE  REVELATIOS'S  OF  A  SQUARE. 

gence  respecting  the  mysteries  of  Freemasonry,  when 
the  end  might  be  obtained  in  a  more  satisfactory  manner 
by  the  honourable  process  of  initiation.  No  notice, 
however,  was  taken  of  it,  and  I  passed  quietly  through 
two  or  three  hands,  of  whom  I  have  nothing  particular 
to  say,  till  I  was  placed  on  the  breast  of  Dr.  Manning- 
ham,  Deputy  Grand  Master,  a  London  physician  of  great 
eminence,  who  proved  a  very  active  Master  of  the  Lodge, 
and  under  his  rule  we  rapidly  increased  in  numbers  and 
respectability. 

"  This  worthy  Brother  had  already  distinguished  him 
self  as  a  Mason,  and  established  a  powerful  influence 
amongst  the  Fraternity ;  and  about  this  time  he  con- 
tributed, by  his  able  and  judicious  conduct,  to  restore 
harmony  to  the  Craft,  which  had  suffered 'considerably 
from  the  apathy  of  Lord  Byron,  the  Grand  Master,  who, 
for  four  years  together,  had  neither  held  a  Grand  Lodge 
nor  nominated  a  successor.  The  Fraternity  being  thus 
neglected,  several  old  Masons,  with  Past  Grand  Master 
Payne  at  their  head,  held  a  private  meeting  to  consult 
on  the  safest  and  most  legitimate  method  of  proceeding 
in  the  present  emergency.  Bro.  Payne  proposed  that  a 
public  meeting  of  the  Brethren  should  be  called,  by 
advertisement,  to  deliberate  on  the  propriety  of  proceed- 
ing to  the  election  of  a  new  Grand  Master.  He  admitted 
that  it  was  a  strong  measure,  but  thought  that  the  exi- 
gency of  the  case  would  justify  it.  Dr.  Manningham, 
being  present,  observed  that  he  was  afraid  it  would  be 
a  breach  of  masonic  law ;  and  if  not,  it  might  tend  to 
introduce  a  party  spirit  amongst  the  Brethren,  which  is 
always  more  easily  evoked  than  subdued.  He  promised, 
however,  to  communicate  with  the  Grand  Master  on  the 
subject,  and  assured  them  that  a  Grand  Lodge  should  be 
convened  at  the  usual  time  of  the  year,  and  a  successor 
elected  conformably  to  ancient  practice.  With  this 
promise  G.  M.  Payne  professed  himself  to  be  content ; 
and  thus  the  breach  was  healed  by  a  judicious  application 
of  the  laws  and  principles  of  Masonry. 

"Dr.  Manningham  was  a  bon  vivant,  as,  indeed,  all  men 
were  who  had  any  pretensions  to  move  in  good  society. 
He  would  have  lost  caste  if  he  had  been  otherwise ;  for 
the  only  alternative  a  gentleman  had  in  these  days,  at  a 
dinner  or  tavern  party,  was  to  get  drunk,  or  give  mortal 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         51 

offence  to  his  entertainer.2  On  this  principle,  the  sup- 
pers after  Lodge  hours  were  devoted  to  social  enjoyment. 
The  song,  the  toast,  and  the  racy  jest  went  round  mer- 
rily ;  and  often,  to  say  the  truth,  the  Brethren  exceeded 
the  bounds  of  moderation.  And  it  is  scarcely  to  be  won- 
dered at,  when  conviviality  was  so  fashionable  amongst 
the  higher  classes  of  society.  It  was  considered  a  mark 
of  distinction  to  be  called  a  three-bottle  man,  and  a  dis- 
grace to  retire  from  the  dinner-table  sober.  I  have  seen 
a  great  deal  of  it  amongst  Masons,  and  have  heard  many 
anecdotes  of  the  same  vice  in  men  eminently  gifted  with 
great  and  commanding  talents.3  There  was  some  truth 
in  Hogarth's  representation  of  the  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons  in  his  picture  of  '  Night,'  where  the  Master  of  a 
Lodge,  Sir  Thomas  Veil,  appears  in  a  state  of  intoxica- 
tion, and  with  a  broken  head.  This  picture  was  much 
talked  about,  and,  although  it  was  considered  a  libel  on 
the  Fraternity,  it  was  a  representation  founded  on  unde 
niable  facts. 

"  Notwithstanding  these  circumstances,  there  existed 
a  high  tone  of  morality  amongst  the  Masons  of  that 
period.  *I  should  like  to  be  made  a  Mason,'  said  a 
friend  of  Dr.  Manningham  to  him  one  day.  He  was  a 

2  A  sermon  was  preached  by  Robert  Harris,  of  Trinity  College, 
Oxford,  dedicated  to  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  in  Oxfordshire,  who 
were  notoriously  hard  drinkers,  in  which  he  says,  "In  drinking  thero 
is  art,  and  in  the  world  it  is  become  a  great  profession,  regulated  by 
laws  and  ceremonies.     There  is  drinking  by  the  foot,  by  the  yard,  by 
the  dozen,  by  the  score ;  for  a  wager,  for  victory,  man  against  man, 
house  against  house,  town  against  town,  and  how  not?" 

3  "  Sir  Richard  Steele  spent  half  his  time  in  a  tavern.     In  fact,  he 
may  be  said  to  have  measured  time  by  the  bottle  ;  for  it  is  on  record 
that,  being  sent  for  by  his  wife,  he  returned  for  answer,  that  he  would 
be  with  her  in  half  a  bottle.     The  like  may  be  said  of  that  greal 
genius  Savage  the  poet ;  and  even  Addison  was  dull  and  prosy  till  he 
was   three  parts  drunk.     It  is  also  recorded  of  Pitt,  but  I  cannot 
vouch  for  the  truth  of  it,  that  two  bottles  of  port  wine  per  diem  were 
his  usual  allowance ;  and  that  it  was  to  this  alone  he  was  indebted  for 
the  almost  superhuman  labour  he  went  through  during  his  short,  but 
actively-employed  life.     His  friend  and  colleague,  Harry  Dundas, 
the  ancestor  of  Earl  Zetland,  went  the  same  lengths.  .  Sheridan,  lat- 
terly, without  wine,  was  a  driveller.     He  sacrificed  to  it  talents  such 
as  no  man  I  ever  heard  or  read  of  possessed;  for  no  subject  ap- 
peared to  be  beyond  his  reach.      The  learned  Porson  was  a  drunk- 
ard, arid  sc  was  Robert  Burns  the  poet."— (Eraser's  Mag.,  vol.  xi., 
p.  730.) 


&2  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

city  tradesman.  *  I  think  it  would  be  of  service  to  my 
trade.'  '  Is  that  your  sole  motive  ?'  asked  the  doctor. 
*  Yes.'  *  Then,'  he  replied,  *  I  would  advise  you  to  re- 
consider the  matter,  and  relinquish  all  idea  of  becoming 
a  Brother  of  the  Craft,  for  I  shall  think  it  my  duty  to 
inform  the  Brethren  what  your  motive  is,  and  you  are 
certain  to  be  rejected.' 

"  We  heard,  about  this  time,  that  certain  Jews  were 
implicated  in  the  unauthorised  innovations  of  our  conti- 
nental Brethren,  if,  indeed,  they  were  not  the  chief  movers 
of  then},  as  was  asserted  by  some  authorities  ;4  and  it  was 
the  first  notice  we  ever  received  of  the  descendants  of 
Abraham  being  admitted  to  a  participation  in  our 
Christian  privileges.  From  their  success  in  procuring 
initiation  into  the  surreptitious  Masonry  of  the  continent,5 
the  English  Jews  soon  became  successful  candidates  for 
admission  into  our  symbolical  Order;  for  it  was  justly 
contended  that,  as  Jews  were  not  excluded  from  attend- 
ing Christian  churches,  it  would  be  impolitic  and  uncha- 
ritable to  close  a  Christian  Lodge  against  them.  From 
that  period  they  have  been  received  into  Masonry  as 
members  of  an  universal  Order,  whose  principles,  like 
those  of  the  Christian  religion,  are  destined  to  cover  the 
earth  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea. 

"Rumours  now  arose,  whence  originating  no  one  could 
discover,  that  Freemasonry  was  exclusively  a  Jewish 
institution  ;  and  the  proposition  formed  a  prolific  subject 
of  discussion  amongst  us.  At  length  an  eminent  Jew 
offered  himself  as  a  candidate  for  initiation  in  our  Lodge  ; 
and  being  a  reputable  and  intelligent  man,  he  was,  of 
course,  accepted ;  and  then  we  discovered  the  grounds 
on  which  the  arguments  for  the  Jewish  origin  and  appli- 
cation of  Masonry  were  based.  One  evening,  in  a  numer- 

4  About  this  time,  the  Council  of  Emperors  of  the  East  and  West, 
at  Paris,  granted  a  patent  to  a  Jew,  named  Stephen  Morin,  deputing 
him  a  Grand  Inspector-General  for  the  purpose  of  propagating  the 
hauts  grades  "in  other  countries  beyond  the  seas;"  meaning  in  tlic 
New  World.  (Thory,  Act.  Lat.,  torn,  i.,  78.) 

6  We  have  the  evidence  of  Thory  (Acta  Lat.,  torn,  i.,  78),  that  at 
this  period  France  abounded  in  Lodges,  with  surreptitious  Constitu- 
tions, false  titles,  Charters  antedated,  and  delivered  by  pretended 
authorities ;  being  not  unfrequently  fabricated  by  the  Lodges  them- 
selves ;  and  even  constituting  Mother  Lodges  and  Chapters  without 
the  slightest  legal  sanction. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          53 

ous  Lodge,  Dr.  Manningham  expatiated  largely,  in  his 
lecture,  on  Faith,  Hope,  and  Charity,  as  virtues  equally 
of  Masonry  and  Christianity.  When  the  lecture  was 
ended,  our  Hebrew  Brother  observed  that,  in  his  opinion, 
Faith,  Hope,  and  Charity  had  no  existence  in  ancient 
Masonry.  He  contended  that  as  Solomon  built  the  Tem- 
ple at  Jerusalem,  which  forms  the  great  allegory  of  the 
Order,  and  as  he  was  the  first  and  chief  of  the  three 
Grand  Masters,  it  follows  that  Masonry  must  be  a  Jew- 
ish establishment,  and  consequently  inapplicable  to  the 
reception  of  virtues  which  are  peculiar  to  any  sectarian 
religion. 

"  Dr.  Manningham  admitted  that  the  argument  was 
specious,  and  might  have  the  effect  of  convincing  some 
few  superficial  Brethren,  but  it  was  not  sound ;  for,  he 
observed,  if  Masonry  be  Jewish,  it  is  not  only  sectarian, 
but  of  the  most  exclusive  character ;  for  Palestine  was 
but  a  flower-garden  compared  to  the  rest  of  the  world, 
and  its  population  as  to  numbers  perfectly  insignificant. 
And  if  Solomon's  Grand  Mastership  be  esteemed  of  any 
importance  in  the  decision  of  this  question,  it  will  be 
found  an  unfortunate  argument,  for  the  weight  of  evi- 
dence is  decidedly  against  it.  It  is  true  that  Solomon 
was  a  Jew,  but  his  two  colleagues  were  heathens,  wor- 
shippers of  Hercules  and  Astarte,  and  addicted  to  the 
practice  of  the  spurious  Freemasonry  of  Tammuz  ;  and, 
therefore,  if  this  reasoning  be  of  any  value,  it  will  tend 
to  prove  that  Freemasonry  is  a  heathen  rather  than  a 
Jewish  institution,  because  Paganism  furnished  two  out 
of  three  chief  rulers  in  Masonry. 

"'But,'  Dr.  Manningham  continued,  'although  Solo- 
mon was  a  Jew,  and  could  speak  of  trees,  from  the 
cedartree  that  is  in  Lebanon,  even  unto  the  hyssop  that 
springeth  out  of  the  wall ;  and  also  of  beasts,  and  of  fowl, 
and  of  creeping  things,  and  of  fishes,  he  was  profoundly 
ignorant  of  the  science  of  architecture.  He  understood 
natural  history  perfectly,  but  we  do  not  find  that  he  was 
celebrated  for  a  knowledge  of  Operative  Masonry.  And 
if  he  was  unacquainted  with  this  sublime  science,  much 
less  could  any  of  his  subjects  establish  a  claim  to  such 
an  excellent  knowledge.  In  fact,  if  he  had  possessed,  in 
his  own  dominions,  artists  and  workmen  sufficiently 
talented  to  have  erected  a  temple  to  the  true  God,  he 


54  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

would  not  have  solicited  the  aid  of  foreigners  and  worship- 
pers of  false  deities.  The  ancient  Jews  were  confessedly 
ignorant  of  Masonry,  and,  therefore,  the  two  Hirams  were 
the  persons  principally  engaged  in  the  execution  of  this 
great  work.  They  collected  together  the  scattered  bands 
of  their  countrymen,  the  Dionysiacs,  from  Egypt  and 
other  countries,  and,  dividing  them  into  three  parties, 
stationed  one  in  the  forest  of  Lebanon,  another  in  the 
stone  quarries,  and  the  third  in  the  clayey  ground 
between  Succoth  and  Zeredathah,  while  Solomon  merely 
furnished  the  superior  and  inferior  labourers  for  the  work, 
under  the  direction  of  Prince  Adonhiram.  I  cannot 
understand,  therefore,  how  the  above  argument  can  be 
urged  with  any  degree  of  confidence  in  favour  of  the 
hypothesis  that  Freemasonry  is  a  Jewish  institution.' 

"  Our  Hebrew  Brother  was  too  tenacious  of  the  truth 
of  his  argument  to  abandon  it  without  an  effort,  and  he 
triumphantly  contended  that  as  the  Tabernacle  and 
Temple,  with  their  appendages,  are  constituent  and  in- 
dispensable objects  of  illustration  in  the  system  of  Free- 
masonry, its  Levitical  origin  is  thereby  unequivocally 
proved, 

"  Dr.  Manningham  denied  the  premises,  on  the  ground 
that  the  application  of  these  religious  edifices  in  the 
lectures  of  Masonry  is  merely  symbolical  of  a  better 
and  more  perfect  dispensation.  'In  a  word,'  he  con- 
tinued, '  if  Masonry  be  universal,  it  can  only  be  applied 
to  a  universal  religion  which,  Judaism  confessedly  is  not. 
And,  therefore,  it  follows,  that,  if  there  be  a  religion 
which,  in  God's  good  time,  shall  embrace  all  mankind, 
and  bring  them  into  one  fold  under  one  shepherd,  that  is 
the  religion  in  which  all  men  will  ultimately  agree.  It 
is  a  consummation  to  which  every  true  Mason  looks  for- 
ward with  delight,  as  a  season  when  a  universal  religion 
shall  cement  all  mankind  in  the  bonds  of  a  universal  Bro- 
therhood ;  when  the  dove  shall  hold  out  the  olive-branch 
of  peace  to  all  the  kindreds  of  the  earth  ;  when  swords 
shall  be^  beat  into  ploughshares  ;  when  nation  shall  not 
rise  against  nation,  neither  shall  there  be  war  any  more. 
This  completion  of  the  everlasting  design  of  the  Most 
High  will  render  masonic  secrecv  unnecessary,  and 
Christ  shall  be  all  in  all.' 

61  The  Jew  persisted   that,  in  applying  Masonry  to 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  6t5 

Christianity,  we  placed  ourselves  in  a  worse  situation 
than  in  admitting  its  Jewish  tendency,  because  its  uni- 
versality was  thus  destroyed  by  the  adoption  of  a  prin- 
ciple exclusively  sectarian. 

"  « What,'  Dr.  Manningham  replied,  *  sectarian  to  assi- 
milate a  universal  system  to  a  universal  religion?' 

"  '  But  I  deny,'  said  the  Jew,  '  that  Christianity  is  a 
universal  religion.  I  believe  that  Judaism  is  the  only 
true  way  of  worshipping  God,  and  that  it  will  ultimately 
prevail  over  all  others.' 

"  Dr.  Manningham  here  referred  to  the  book  of  Common 
Prayer,  which  always  lay  on  the  table,  and  read  from  the 
seventh  article  as  follows :  '  The  Old  Testament  is  not 
contrary  to  the  New ;  for  in  both  everlasting  life  is  offer- 
ed to  mankind  by  Christ,  who  is  the  only  mediator 
between  God  and  Man  ;  and  the  law  given  from  God  by 
Moses,  as  touching  ceremonies  and  rites,  does  not  bind 
Christian  men.'  He  admitted  that  it  may  be  perfectly 
consistent  in  a  Jew  to  apply  Masonry  to  the  requirements 
of  his  own  religion ;  but,  he  said,  it  was  impossible  for 
the  Christian  to  copy  his  example.  And  for  this  plain 
reason.  If  he  be  firmly  persuaded  that  Christianity  is  a 
universal  religion,  which  he  must  be  if  he  believes  the 
Gospel  to  be  true,  he  cannot,  without  inconsistency, 
affirm,  that  by  making  Masonry  a  Christian  institution,  its 
universality  is  affected.  If,  on  the  contrary,  he  really 
thinks  that  Freemasonry  is  a  Jewish  institution,  he  must 
necessarily  believe  in  the  eternity  of  Judaism,  and  is,  of 
course,  a  doubtful  Christian,  because  St.  Paul  affirms  that 
the  Levitical  institutions  were  abolished  by  the  mission 
of  Jesus  Christ. 

"  'But,'  said  the  Jew,  reserving  his  strongest  argument 
to  the  last,  '  What  can  the  repeated  references  in  Free- 
masonry to  the  Great  Creator  of  the  Universe,  JEHOVAH, 
the  Tetragrammaton  of  the  Jews,  mean,  if  they  do  not 
point  out  the  Jewish  origin  of  Masonry  ? ' 

"'These  references,'  Dr.  Manningham  replied,  'are 
decisive  of  the  question  at  issue.  T.  G.  A.  O.  T.  U.  is  an 
undoubted  landmark  of  ancient  Masonry,  acknowledged 
at  the  revival  in  1717,  and  explained  in  the  authorized 
lectures  to  mean,  HIM  that  was  placed  on  the  topmost  pinna- 
cle of  the  Temple:  and  it  is  not  possible  by  any  process  of 
reasoning  to  apply  it  otherwise  than  to  Christ,  without 


56          THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

questioning  the  truth  of  Sacred  Writ;  for  no  other 
person  that  the  world  ever  saw  had  been  placed  in  that 
position.  It  follows,  therefore,  that  the  founder  of  Christi- 
anity constitutes  an  authentic  and  unalterable  landmark 
of  ancient  Masonry.  Read,'  continued  the  Master,  '  read 
the  fundamental  principles  of  the  Order,  as  recorded  in 
a  manuscript  in  the  Royal  Library,  said  to  have  been 
originally  written  in  the  tenth  century,  of  which  I  have 
here  a  copy.'  And  he  produced  the  transcript,  from 
which  he  read  the  following  passage,  amidst  a  variety  of 
directions  to  the  Craft,  all  to  the  same  purport: — 

"  Into  the  churche  when  thou  dost  gon, 
Pulle  uppe  thy  herte  to  Crist,  anon ! 
Uppon  the  rode  thou  loke  uppe  then ; 
And  knele  down  fayre  on  bothe  thy  knen ; 
Then  pray  to  hym  so  hyr  to  worche, 
After  the  lawe  of  holy  churche, 
For  to  kepe  the  cominandmentes  ten, 
That  God  gaf  to  alle  men ; 
And  pray  to  him  with  mylde  steven 
To  kepe  the  from  the  syimes  seven. 

"  'Such  were  the  landmarks  of  Masonry  in  the  time 
of  Athelstan,'  Dr.  Manningham  concluded,  '  when  the 
first  English  Grand  Lodge  was  established  at  York,  and 
they  are  unalterable,  and  continue  the  same  yesterday, 
to-day,  and  for  ever.' 

"  The  Jew  was  silenced,  but  not  convinced. 

"  You  see,  sir,"  my  strange  instructor  proceeded,  "  that 
this  point  was  argued  dogmatically  by  our  intelligent 
Master ;  and  he  had  an  undoubted  right  to  do  so,  for  he 
was  not  only  the  representative  of  WISDOM,  but  had  also 
the  advantages  of  study  and  experience.  The  subject 
was  repeatedly  discussed  in  our  Lodges,  and  I  have  heard 
the  opinions  of  every  Mason  during  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury who  held  any  authority  in  the  Craft,  and  they  all 
agreed  in  the  above  interpretation  of  the  connection  be- 
tween Freemasonry  and  the  religion  in  which  all  men 
agree. 

"  During  the  Mastership  of  Dr.  Manningham,  the  great 
gun  of  the  opponents  of  Masonry,  called  Jachin  and 
Boaz,  made  its  appearance,6  and  passed  through  numer- 

6  "  Jachin  and  Boaz,  or  an  authentic  key  to  the  door  of  Freema- 
sonry, both  ancient  and  modern.  Calculated  not  only  for  the  instruc- 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          57 

ems  editions.  Its  success  stimulated  other  speculators  to 
follow  in  the  same  track,  and  spurious  rituals  flooded  the 
community  like  an  inundation.7  The  number  of  com- 
petitors in  the  field  served  to  neutralize  each  other's  claim 
on  public  credence.  They  differed  on  many  material 
points,  and,  therefore,  the  conclusion  to  which  the  pub- 
lic very  naturally  came  was,  that  if  any  one  of  them  was 
true,  all  the  rest  must  necessarily  be  false,  and  as  none 
knew  whether  any,  or  which,  was  the  real  Simon  Pure, 
it  followed  that  all  might  be  fabrications  to  impose  on 
the  credulous  reader  absurd  ceremonials  and  fictitious 
secrets,  for  the  base  purpose  of  putting  a  few  pounds  into 
fcheir  own  pockets. 

"  This  was  the  argument  used  by  Dr.  Manningham  to 
induce  the  Brethren  to  treat  these  furtive  attempts  with 
silent  neglect.  '  I  should  like  to  know,'  he  said  one 
evening,  when  the  matter  was  under  consideration  in  the 
Lodge,  '  I  should  like  to  know  the  real  object  of  those 
who  read  these  compilations.  If  they  were  really  desi- 
rous of  becoming  acquainted  with  the  secrets  of  Masonry, 
our  Lodges  are  at  hand;  no  man  of  character  and  purity 
of  motive  is  refused  ;  arid,  by  initiation,  he  will  become 
legitimately  acquainted  with  the  design  and  character  of 
the  Order.  At  all  events,  no  one  possessed  of  a  rational 
judgment  can  safely  rely  on  the  information  communi- 
cated by  these  unauthorized  publications.  Those  who 
are  merely  desirous  of  enjoying  a  laugh  at  the  dignified 
proceedings  of  a  venerable  Institution,  will  find  their 
purpose  sufficiently  answered  by  a  perusal  of  these  pre- 

tion  of  every  new  made  Mason,  but  also  for  the  information  of  all  who 
intend  to  become  Brethren."  London,  1750.  Fifth  edition,  London, 
Nicol,  1764.  Other  new  editions  by  the  same  printer  in  1776,  1777, 
1779,  1788,  1791,  1794,  1797.  New  York  :  Berry,  Kogers,  and  Ber- 
ry, 1793.  London,  Newbury,  1800.  The  21st  edition,  London,  De- 
wick,  1805  ;  and  other  editions  were  printed  in  London  in  1811,  1812, 
1814,  and  1825. 

7  The  following  works  *vere  published  almost  simultaneously  :   uLe 
demasque,  ou  le  vrai  secret  des  F.  M.  mis  au  jour  dans  toutes 


ses  parties  avec  sincerite  et  sans  deguisement."  London,  1751  ; 
Berlin,  1757;  Frankfort  and  Leipsig,  1786.  "The  Thinker  upon 
Freemasonry  ;"  "  The  Ghost  of  Masonry  ;"  "  The  Mason's  Creed  ;" 
"  The  Point  of  a  Mason,  formed  out  of  his  own  materials  ;"  and  "A 
Discovery  of  the  Secrets  of  Masonry,"  published  in  the  "  Scots  Maga» 
zine"  for  1755,  and  repeated  in  the  "Edinburgh  Magazine,"  for  Oc- 
tober, 1757. 


58          THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

tended  revelations;8  although  we  are  justified  in  entering 
our  protest  against  the  exhibition  of  such  a  vitiated  taste, 
and  leaving  them  to  luxuriate  in  the  mire  of  their  own 
prurient  errors.' 

"A  Charge  was  delivered  about  this  time  at  Gravesend,9 
in  which  the  subject  of  Masonic  revelations  was  examin- 
ed. But  Dr.  Manningham  adopted  a  more  effectual 
method  of  neutralizing  these  absurd  attempts  to  impose 
on  the  public,  and  disturb  the  harmony  of  the  Craft.  In 
his  capacity  of  Deputy  Grand  Master,  he  visited  the 
Lodges  in  every  part  of  London  and  its  suburbs,  or  where- 
ever  else  his  presence  was  thought  necessary,  correcting 
errors,  settling  disputes,  redressing  what  was  amiss  in 
the  execution  of  the  laws,  repressing  irregularities,  and 
offering  for  the  consideration  of  the  Brethren  the  most 
prudent  advice,  alike  for  their  future  observance,  and 
conducive  to  their  lasting  advantage.  And  the  whole  of 
his  proceedings  were  characterized  by  such  a  display  of 
candour  and  affability,  as  advanced  his  popularity  to  the 
highest  pitch,  and  greatly  endeared  him  to  the  Frater- 
nity at  large. 

0  The  satires  of  Dean  Swift  on  Freemasonry  are  tho  most  enter- 
taining, and  the  most  harmless.  I  have  already  alluded  to  them  in  a 
previous  chapter  (p.  21),  and  the  following  extract  from  the  celebra- 
ted "  Tripos,"  supposed  to  have  been  delivered  at  a  commencement 
in  the  University  of  Dublin,  will  be  found  amusing.  "  It  was  lately 
ordered  that,  for  the  honour  and  dignity  of  the  University,  there 
should  be  introduced  a  society  of  Freemasons  consisting  of  gentle- 
men, mechanics,  porters,  parsons,  ragmen,  hucksters,  bailiffs,  divines, 
tuckers,  knights,  thatchers,  coblers,  poets,  justices,  drawers,  beggars, 
aldermen,  paviours,  skulls,  freshmen,  bachelors,  scavengers,  masters, 
sow-gelders,  doctors,  ditchers,  pimps,  lords,  butchers,  and  tailors, 
who  shall  bind  themselves  by  an  oath  never  to  discover  their  mighty 
no- secret ;  and  to  relieve  whatsoever  strolling  distressed  Brethren  they 
meet  with,  after  the  example  of  the  Fraternity  of  Freemasons  in  and 
about  Trinity  College,  by  whom  a  collection  was  lately  made  for,  and 
the  purse  of  charity  well  stuffed  for  a  reduced  Brother.  Tarn  libera 
potitus  contributione,  frater  scoundrellus  sarcinulas  suas  discessurus 
colligit,  et  vultu  hilari,  ori  solito  quadrangulum  transit,  &c.,  &c. ; 
proh  dolor,  inter  partes  au  nobiliores,  au  posteriores  nescio  privatum 
tratcrmtatis  notavit  signum  (Anglice,  the  Freemason's  mark).  Quo 
viso,  Dii  boni,  quanto  clamore  totam  iiifecit  domum.  Ter  et  saepius 
pulsavit  pectus.  exsangues  dilaniavit  genas,  et  eheu  nimium  dilace- 
ratas  dilaceravit  vestes.  Tandem  vero  paulo  modestius  insaniehs 
hujusmodi  versiculus  ridiculum  effudi  dolorem." 

"  Charge  delivered  to  the  Brethren  assembled  at  Gravesend  on 
the  29th  of  June,  being  their  first  meeting  after  the  Constitution  ot 
their  Lodge."  London,  1751. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          59 

"  These  visitations  had  become  absolutely  necessary 
for  the  purpose  of  discountenancing  some  gross  impro- 
prieties which,  at  this  period,  were  practised  with  im- 
punity. Some  unworthy  Brethren,  who  had  been  excluded 
from  their  Lodges  for  transgressing  the  general  laws  of 
Masonry,  endeavoured  to  convince  the  public  that  they 
were  good  and  worthy  Brothers,  by  opening  surreptitious 
Lodges,  and  making  Masons,  as  if  they  had  official  autho- 
rity from  the  Gr.  Lodge  at  York  for  such  a  prostitution 
of  masonic  privileges.  These  innovations,  as  might  be 
expected,  produced  the  most  disastrous  results,  and  were 
the  commencement  of  that  unhappy  schism  which  di- 
vided the  Society  into  two  sections  for  more  than  half 
a  century. 

"  At  this  period  we  had  no  authorized  form  of  prayer 
to  be  used  at  initiations,  which  led  to  some  slight  irregu- 
larities since  the  admission  of  Jewish  Brethren.  Each 
Master  of  a  Lodge  had  been  left  to  his  own  discretion  in 
this  particular,  although  the  general  practice  was,  to 
select  an  appropriate  forrn  from  the  Liturgy  of  the  Church. 
Dr.  Manningham  saw  the  evil,  and  determined  to  apply 
a  remedy.  He  consulted  with  Dr.  Anderson  on  the  sub- 
ject, and  together  they  drew  up  a  prayer  for  that  parti- 
cular ceremony,  which  was  submitted  to  the  Grand  Lodge 
for  its  sanction ;  and  that  being  obtained,  Dr.  Manning- 
ham  introduced  it  in  person  to  the  metropolitan  Lodges, 
by  whom  it  was  gratefully  received.  From  thence  it 
spread  into  the  provinces,  and  was  generally  adopted 
throughout  the  kingdom.10 

10  Tliis  prayer  continued  in  use  till  the  time  of  Preston,  who  altered, 
without  improving  it.  It  was  printed  in  the  "  Freemasons'  Pocket 
Companion,"  and  other  masonic  publications.  I  subjoin  the  form : 
"Most  Holy  and  Glorious  Lord  God,  thou  Architect  of  heaven  and 
earth,  who  art  the  giver  of  all  good  gifts  and  graces ;  and  ^ath  pro- 
mised that  where  two  or  three  are  gathered  together  in  thy  name,  thou 
wilt  be  in  the  midst  of  them  ;  in  thy  Name  we  assemble  and  meet  to- 
gether, most  humbly  beseeching  thee  to  bless  us  in  all  our  undertak- 
ings :  to  give  us  thy  Holy  Spirit,  to  enlighten  our  minds  with  wisdom 
and  understanding ;  that  we  may  know  and  serve  thee  aright,  that  all 
our  doings  may  tend  to  thy  glory  and  the  salvation  of  our  souls.  And 
we  beseech  thee,  0  Lord  God,  to  bless  this  our  present  undertaking, 
and  to  grant  that  this  our  Brother  may  dedicate  his  life  to  thy  ser- 
vice, and  be  a  true  and  faithful  Brother  amongst  us.  Endue  him  with 
Divine  wisdom,  that  he  may,  with  the  secrets  of  Masonry,  be  able  to 
unfold  the  mysteries  of  godliness  and  Christianity.  This  we  humbly 


60         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

«*In  contravention  of  the  pretended  revelations  of 
masonic  secrets,  it  was  asserted  by  an  intelligent  Brother 
that  he  was  able,  with  a  few  masonic  implements — that 
is,  two  squares  and  a  common  gavel — to  convey  any 
word  or  sentence  to  a  skilful  and  intelligent  Freemason, 
without  speaking,  writing,  or  noise,  and  that  at  any 
given  distance,  where  the  parties  can  see  each  other,  and 
be  able  to  distinguish  squares  from  circles.11  And  another 
Brother,  to  the  same  effect,  said,  *  If  a  Christian,  Jew, 
Turk,  or  Brahmin  should  meet  together,  and  if  they  are 
Masons,  they  will  no  sooner  tread  upon  the  Level,  than 
its  magical  and  secret  spring  throws  up  a  Perpendicular, 
and  they  are  instantaneously  found  upon  the  Square; 
and  these  men,  although  ignorant  of  each  other's  lan- 
guage, will  communicate  their  thoughts  intelligibly,  with 
no  other  assistance  than  the  three  Grand  Pillars  of  hearing, 
seeing,  and  feeling.'  And  they  challenged  any  charlatan 
who  pretended  to  reveal  the  secrets  of  Freemasonry,  to 
show  by  what  process  this  was  effected. 

"  The  Craft,  as  you  are  well  aware,"  continued  my 
garrulous  companion,  *•  was  now  divided  into  two  sec- 
tions, a  schism  having  taken  place  in  the  Order,  in  conse- 
quence of  a  few  suspensions  and  expulsions  for  irregu- 
larities ;  and  a  hostile  Grand  Lodge  was  established  in 
London,  which  charged  the  Constitutional  Grand  Lodge 
with  being  a  self-constituted  assembly,  defective  in  num- 
bers, form,  and  capacity,  and  stigmatized  its  members 
with  the  offensive  appellation  of  modern  Masons.™  This 
caused  some  little  sensation,  and  produced  two  or  three 
anonymous  works  in  1752-4.13 

"At  the  Grand  Lodge,  29th  November,  1754,  Dr. 
Manningham  brought  the  subject  forward,  and  made  a 
formal  complaint  that  certain  Brethren  had  associated 
thern^lves  together  under  the  denomination  of  ancient 
Masons,  and  declared  themselves  independent  of  the 
Grand  Lodge,  refusing  obedience  to  its  laws,  and  repu- 
diating the  authority  of  the  Grand  Master.  He  said  that 
some  notice  ought  to  be  taken  of  these  proceedings,  for 

beg,  in  the  name  and  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord  and 
Saviour,  Amen."— See  the  original  in  "  Scott's  Pocket  Companion." 
Ed.  1754. 

11  "Ahiman  Rezon."     Ed.  1813,  p.  xii.  13  See  Ibid.  p.  riii. 

13  A  Masonic  Creed,  with  a  curious  Letter  by  Mr.  Locke.     1754, 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          61 

the  purpose  of  discouraging  such  irregular  meetings,  not 
only  because  they  were  contrary  to  the  laws  and  an 
insult  to  the  Grand  Master,  but  also  as  they  tended  to 
introduce  into  the  system  of  Masonry  novelties  and 
conceits  inconsistent  with  its  true  principles,  thus  in- 
sinuating that  there  had  been  other  societies  of  Masons 
of  a  different  nature  to  our  own  ancient  and  honourable 
Order. 

"The  question  being  put,  that  this  new  society  was 
an  innovation  on  the  ancient  system  of  Masonry,  it  was 
carried  in  the  affirmative,  with  only  one  dissentient  voice. 
Dr.  Manningham  then  moved,  that  the  consideration  of 
the  irregular  proceedings  of  the  offending  Brethren  might 
be  postponed  till  the  next  Quarterly  Communication, 
hoping  that  a  thorough  sense  of  their  misconduct,  and  a 
determination  not  to  persist  in  it,  would,  in  the  mean- 
time, manifest  itself,  and  reconcile  them  to  jthe  Grand 
Lodge  ;  which  was  unanimously  agreed  to. 

"I  was  fortunate  enough  to  be  present  at  these  discus- 
sions, and  therefore  have  no  hesitation  in  communicating 
them  to  you  as  unquestionable  facts.  Now  it  so  happened 
that  some  of  the  Brethren  of  the  Lodge  No.  94,  meeting 
at  the  Ben  Jonson's  head,  Spitalfields,  had  been  on  the 
continent,  and  had  brought  from  thence  the  rituals  of 
the  Ecossais,  the  Elu,  and  Ramsay's  Royal  Arch,  which 
they  practised  secretly  every  third  Lodge  night,  under 
the  designation  of  ancient  Masonry.  This  was  soon 
whispered  abroad,  and  Dr.  Manningham,  with  a  few 
other  Brethren,  in  the  course  of  their  visitations,  called 
at  the  Lodge  on  one  of  its  peculiar  nights,  and  were 
refused  admittance.  This  produced  a  complaint  at  the 
next  Grand  Lodge ;  and,  in  addition  to  a  severe  vote  of 
censure  on  the  members  of  the  Ben  Jonson's  Lodge,  it 
was  commanded  that  any  Brother  of  the  Order  should  be 
eligible  for  admission  into  that  Lodge  as  a  visitor  on  #ny 
of  its  regular  nights. 

"  The  offending  members  affected  to  consider  this 
order  a  species  of  oppression  to  which  they  were  not 
inclined  to  submit,  and  they  drew  up  and  published  a 
Manifesto,14  in  which  they  accused  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
partiality,  innovation,  and  deviation  from  ancient  Land- 

14  «» Manifesto  and  Mason's  Creed."     London.  1755. 


62         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

marks,  and  publicly  renounced  their  allegiance  to  it 
Several  passages  from  this  book  were  read  in  Grand 
Lodge,  and  I  remember  one  paragraph  from  the  Preface 
particularly;  it  was  as  follows:  *  Whereas  the  genuine 
spirit  of  Masonry  seems  to  be  so  greatly  on  the  decline, 
that  the  Craft  is  in  imminent  danger  from  false  Brethren : 
and  whereas  its  very  fundamentals  have  of  late  been 
attacked,  and  a  revolution  from  its  ancient  principles, 
etc.,  it  has  been  thought  necessary,  by  certain  persons 
who  have  the  welfare  of  the  Craft  at  heart,  to  publish 
the  following  little  pamphlet,  by  means  of  which  it  is 
hoped  the  ignorant  may  be  instructed,  the  lukewarm 
inspirited,  and  the  irregular  reformed.' 

"  Rather  a  bold  beginning,  was  it  not  ? 

"  How  far  this  ill-judged  pamphlet  produced  these 
effects  it  will  not  be  difficult  to  pronounce;  and  in  the 
Lodge  I  heard  but  one  opinion  of  it.  Certain  it  is  that 
the  Grand  Lodge,  on  St.  John  the  Baptist's  day,  1755, 
passed  unanimously  the  following  resolution  :  '  Ordered, 
that  the  Brethren  complained  of  at  the  last  Quarterly 
Communication,  persisting  in  their  disobedience  to  the 
determination  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  their  Lodge,  No.  94, 
held  at  the  Ben  Junson's  Head,  Pel  ham  street,  Spital- 
fields,  be  erased  from  the  Book  of  Lodges,  and  that  such 
of  the  Brethren  thereof  who  shall  continue  those  irregu- 
lar meetings  be  not  admitted  as  visitors  in  any  Lodge 
whatever.' 

"These  decisive  and  vigorous  proceedings,"  said  the 
Square,  "  increased  the  schism,  and  appeared  to  render 
a  reunion  impracticable.  And,  indeed,  the  refractory 
Brethren  understood  it  to  be  so,  for  they  immediately 
took  measures  for  the  permanency  of  their  new  branch 
of  the  Order,  by  constituting  a  Grand  Lodge,  and  issuing 
warrants  for  private  Lodges,  and  thus  commenced  the 
practice  of  a  species  of  Masonry  unknown  in  former 
times.  They  instituted  a  novel  degree,  which  they 
called  the  Royal  Arch,  compounded  out  of  a  portion  of 
the  third  degree,  and  from  various  continental  innova- 
tions, which  gave  them  a  vast  advantage  in  the  minds  of 
curious  and  unthinking  'persons,  over  the  pure  ancient 
system  practised  by  the  old  Grand  Lodge,  inasmuch  as 
it  held  out  the  prospect  of  superior  information,  and  a 
greater  insight  into  the  design  of  ancient  Freemasonry. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          63 

TKere  are  some  reasons,  however,  for  believing  that  this 
schism  was  beneficial,  rather  than  otherwise,  to  the  cause 
of  genuine  Freemasonry.  Indeed,  this  was  the  opinion  of 
Dr.  Hemming,  and  he  publicly  asserted,  at  the  reunion 
of  the  two  Grand  Lodges  in  1813,  that  it  had  done  a 
great  deal  of  good,  by  introducing  a  spirit  of  inquiry 
which  proved  favourable  to  its  general  interests.  And 
we  do  not  find  that  its  350  or  400  Lodges  had  any  effect 
in  reducing  the  members  attached  to  the  constitutional 
Grand  Lodge  ;  for  they  continued  to  increase  by  gradual 
and  certain  steps,  and  it  maintained  its  rank,  in  the  face 
of  every  opposition,  with  becoming  dignity.  There  can 
be  no  doubt  but  the  prevalence  of  schism  on  the  conti- 
nent of  Europe  laid  the  foundation  for  this  unnatural 
division  of  English  Masonry  into  two  hostile  parties; 
but,  as  the  dispute  was  conducted  with  moderation  on 
both  sides,  it  soon  subsided,  and  the  two  Grand  Lodges 
proceeded  in  their  respective  careers  in  peace,  harmony, 
and  brotherly  love.15 

15  See  the  •*  Historical  Landmarks  of  Masonry,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  58 ;  and 
•  First  Letter  to  Dr.  Crucefix,"  by  the  Author. 


CHAPTER  V. 

TESTS    AND    QUALIFICATIONS. 
ENTICK,    HESLETINE,    CALCOTT,    HUTCHINSON. 

1760—1769. 


••  Maconrye  beeth  the  skylle  of  Nature,  the  understondynge  of  the 
myghte  that  ys  hereynne,  and  its  sondre  werkynges." — OLD  MA- 
SONIC MS. 

**  She  knoweth  the  subtilties  of  speeches,  and  can  expound  dark 
sentences ;  she  forseeth  signs  and  wonders,  and  the  events  of  seasons 
and  tunes." — SOLOMON. 

**  Some  folks  have  with  curious  impertinence  strove, 
Prom  Freemasons'  bosoms  their  secrets  to  move, 
I'll  tell  them  in  vain  their  endeavours  must  prove ; 
Which  nobody  can  deny." 

MASONIC  SONG. 


"  IN  revealing  some  of  the  peculiar  practices  of  Masonry 
in  the  eighteenth  century,  which,  I  am  persuaded,  are 
not  clearly  understood,"  continued  the  Master's  Jewel, 
"  I  must  caution  you  against  confounding  the  pursuits  of 
labour  with  those  of  refreshment,  for  they  were  perfectly 
distinct.  Labour  was  an  exclusive  employment  practised 
by  Masons  alone,  while  the  amusements  which  attended 
the  latter  were  common  to  many  other  convivial  societies, 
and  were  regulated  in  accordance  with  the  customs  of 
the  day.  Grave  business  being  closed,  wit  and  good 
humour  reigned  triumphant,  and  the  Brethren  indulged 
themselves  with  a  zest  and  freedom  which  distinguished 
no  other  community.  Amongst  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  harmony  and  brotherly  love  were  alike  cherished 
and  enforced ;  and  disputes  and  quarrels  seldom  deformed 
the  chaste  enjoyments  of  the  festive  board.  But  I  am 
truly  concerned  to  say  that,  in  some  of  our  Lodges, 
Masonry  was  deformed  by  the  unnatural  attempt  to 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          65 

blend  these  two  divisions  of  masonic  employment,  which 
were  never  intended  to  coalesce ;  and  the  fatal  conse- 
quences of  such  a  course  will  too  plainly  appear  by 
sundry  revelations  which  I  shall  feel  bound  to  make  in 
the  period  now  under  consideration. 

"  In  the  eighteenth  century  the  Lodge  expenses  were 
constructed  on  the  most  economical  scale.  The  initiation 
fees  ranged  from  one  to  two  guineas,  exclusive  of  the 
registration  fee ;  and  the  quarterages  were  from  2s.  Qd. 
to  5.5.,  including  suppers.  Under  these  circumstances,  it 
required  the  exercise  of  great  caution  and  discrimination 
to  prevent  the  introduction  of  improper  persons.  And, 
accordingly,  we  had  a  clause  in  our  Bye-Laws — which, 
indeed,  was  pretty  general  amongst  the  Fraternity — to 
the  following  effect : — '  And  whereas  the  Craft  hath  suf- 
fered greatly  in  its  reputation  and  happiness  by  the 
admission  of  low  and  inferior  persons,  no  ways  fit  to 
become  members  of  our  ancient  and  honourable  Institu- 
tion, whereby  men  of  rank,  quality,  knowledge,  and 
education,  are  often  deterred  from  associating  with  their 
Brethren  at  their  public  meetings  :  it  is  hoped  that  every 
Brother  who  is  desired  to  propose  any  person  will  be 
particularly  careful  that  he  is  one  in  all  respects  suitable 
to  the  Venerable  Society  he  is  to  become  a  member  of; 
one  whose  temper  and  disposition  may  cement  the  har- 
mony of  the  Lodge,  and  whose  conduct  and  circum- 
stances in  life  are  such  as  may  not  tend  to  diminish  the 
credit  of  it. 

"In  the  choice  of  a  Master,  it  was  recommended  in 
the  Bye-Laws  that  abilities  should  be  preferred  to  seni- 
ority or  station  in  life ;  but  this  rule  was  not  always 
observed,  and  the  Lodges  occasionally  fell  into  inefficient 
hands,  to  the  depreciation  of  their  character,  and  the 
diminution  of  their  numbers.  In  many  Lodges  it  was 
the  practice  to  elect  the  Master,  Treasurer,  Secretary, 
and  Tyler,  by  ballot;  nor  did  the  former  possess  the 
privilege  of  nominating  any  officer,  except  his  senior 
Warden,  lest  he  should  possess  an  undue  authority  over 
the  Brethren;  and,  therefore,  the<senior  Warden  appointed 
his  junior,  and  both  were  then  invested  by  the  Master. 
Decorum  was  enforced  by  a  rigid  exaction  of  fines, 
which  were  frequently  directed  to  be  paid  in  wine  or 
spirits,  to  be  consumed  then  and  there  by  the  Brethren 


66  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE 

present.1  And  as  the  Lodges  were  generally  held  at  an 
inn,  or  tavern,  the  landlord,  to  whom  the  furniture 
usually  belonged,  possessed  considerable  influence  in  the 
Society,  arid  was  in  a  position  to  subject  the  Brethren  to 
great  inconvenience  if  they  presumed  to  interfere  in  the 
slightest  degree  with  his  views  of  profit  or  emolument. 
From  these  causes,  added  to  the  universal  license  of  the 
times,  they  were  induced  to  indulge  in  excesses'  which 
transgressed  the  bounds  of  moderate  conviviality,  and 
brought  discredit  on  the  Order.  This  compulsory  prac- 
tice became  at  length  so  burdensome,  that  a  clause  was 
introduced  into  the  Bye-Laws,  by  direction  of  the  Grand 
Lodge,  that  'no  landlord  or  master  of  the  house  where  a 
Lodge  shall  be  held  shall  be  permitted  to  have  any  other 
share  in  the  furniture  and  property  of  the  Lodge  tb*-n  as 
an  individual  member.'  By  the  genial  operation  of  this 
rule  the  above  nuisance  was  considerably  abated. 

"  The  period  I  have  passed  over  in  the  preceding 
chapter  produced  several  authentic  publications  on  the 
subject  of  Masonry,  which  were  read  in  the  Lodge*  for 
the  edification  of  the  Brethren.2  The  'Ahiman 


1  Thus  in  an  old  minute  book  belonging  to  the  Witham  L  >dge, 
Lincoln,  we  find  the  following  entries  in  the  Bye-Laws  :  —  **  The  Mas- 
ter, if  present,  or  his  Wardens,  in  his  absence,  shall  regularly  open 
arid  close  the  Lodge  at  the  appointed  hours.     Or  if  all  of  t  their  hap- 
pen to  be  absent,  the  member  who  was  last  Master,  or  for  wani    of  a 
person  who  hath  passed  the  Chair,  the  lust  Warden  present  is  to  do 
the  same,  and  during  the  Lodge  hours  shall  promote  the  busin  »ss  of 
the  Craft  ;  so  that  there  may  be  one  EXAMINATION,  at  least,  gone 
through  on  every  Lodge  night,  or  the  persons  so  neglecting  shall 
forfeit  a  bottle  of  wine,  to  be  drank  by  the  Brethren  after  the  Loo/  %e  is 

closed,  to  make  them  somejjart  amends.  Not  fewer  than  three  It-ives, 
part  of  the  Constitutions  of  the  Fraternity,  shall  be  read  immediately 
after  opening  the  Lodge,  on  every  Lodge  night,  by  the  Master,  hia 
Wardens,  or  their  Official,  or  by  some  other  Brother  present  by  their 
appointment,  under  the  penalty  of  one  bottle  of  wine  to  be  pal  -I  as 
aforesaid.  No  Brother  made  in  another  Lodge  shall  be  passed  Mas- 
ter  in  this  Lodge  under  half  a  guinea,  to  be  paid  for  the  enter  taintntnt 
of  the  Masters  present. 

2  These  were  —  "A  Charge  delivered  at  the  King's  Arms,  in  HJ!«- 
ton,  Cornwall,  on  Tuesday,  April  21st,  1752,  by  Isaac,  Head."      "A 
Search  after  Truth  :  a  Sermon,  delivered  at  Gloucester  before  Ihe 
Lodge,   No.  95  :"  1752.      "  A  Pocket  Companion,  and  History  o1 
Freemasonry,  containing  its  Origin,  Progress,  and  Present  State  ;  th« 
Institution  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Scotland  ;  Lists  of  the  Grand  Mas- 
ters and  other  Officers  of  the  Grand  Lodges  of  Scotland  and  England 
an  Abstract  of  their  Laws,  Constitutions.  Customs,  Charges,  Orders 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          67 

was  also  published  for  the  use  of  the  seceders,  and  was 
adopted  by  the  schismatical  Grand  Lodge,  as  its  Book  of 
Constitutions.3  At  this  period  our  Rev.  Bro.  Entick 
engaged  in  the  laudable  design  of  counteracting  the 
repeated  attempts  that  had  been  made  to  throw  Masonry 
into  confusion,  and  contributed  several  valuable  additions 
to  masonic  literature.  He  was,  in  his  turn,  the  Master  of 
our  Lodge,  and  I  glittered  on  his  breast  for  three  consecu- 
tive years.  His  habits  were  grave  and  sober;  but  he 
was  a  good  Master,  and  a  fair  disciplinarian,  popular 
amongst  the  Craft,  an  expositor  of  Masonry  in  many 
printed  works,  and  at  the  same  time  he  preserved  his 
status  in  the  Grand  Lodge,  which  is  more  than  Capt. 
Smith,  Preston,  Whitney,  and  some  other  popular  Breth- 
ren, were  fortunate  enough  to  accomplish  at  a  subsequent 
period.  He  published  two  several  editions  of  the  Book 
of  Constitutions,4  and  preached  many  sermons  on  Free- 

and  Regulations,  for  the  Instruction  and  Conduct  of  the  Brethren.'' 
By  Jonathan  Scott.  London:  Baldwin,  Davey,  and  Law,  1754; 
Second  edition,  1759 ;  Third  edition,  1764.  To  this  latter  edition 
were  appended  many  other  particulars  for  the  use  of  the  Society. 

3  "  Ahirnan  Rezon,  or  a  Help  to  a  Brother;  showing  the  Excellency 
of  Secrecy,  and  the  First  Cause  or  Motive  of  the  Institution  of  Ma- 
sonry, the  Principles  of  the  Craft,  and  the  Benefits  from  a  Strict  Ob- 
servance thereof;  also  the  Old  and  New  Regulations.      To  which  is 
added,  the  greatest  Collection  of  Masonic  Songs."    By  Bro.  Dermott. 
London:    Bedford,    17.56;    Second  edition,   London,    1764;    Third 
edition,   London,  Jones,    1778;  Fifth  edition,  Dublin,   1780;  Sixth 
edition,  by  Bro.  Harper,  London,  Burton.  1800  ;  Seventh  edition,  Lon- 
don. 1807;  Eighth  edition,   London,   1813;  Ninth  edition,  London, 
Asperne,    1836.       "The  Mariland  Ahiman  Rczon;    containing   the 
History  of  Masonry,  &c."     Baltimore,  1799.     Freemasons'  Library, 
and  General  Ahiman  Rezon."     By  Samuel  Cole,     Baltimore,  1817. 
"Ahiman  Rezon  abridged  and  digested."  By  W.  Smith,  D.D.  Phila- 
delphia, 1783.     "  Charges  and  Regulations  of  the  Society  of  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons  ;  extracted  from  Ahiman  Rezon,  under  the  sanction 
of  the  Prov.  Grand  Lodge  of  Halifax,  in  New  Scotland."     Halifax, 
1786.     It  was  answered  in  a  book  called  "  A  Defence  of  Masonry,  as 
practised  in  the  Regular  Lodges,  both  Foreign  and  Domestic,  under 
the  Constitution  of 'the  English  Grand  Master.      In  which  is  contain- 
ed a  Refutation  of  Mr.  Dermott' s   absurd  and  ridiculous  Account  of 
Freemasonry,  in  his  book  entitled  *  Ahiman  Rezon,'  and  the  Several 
Queries  therein  reflecting  on  the  Regular   Masons  considered  and 
answered."     London,  Flexney  and  Hood,  1765. 

4  "The  Constitutions  of  the  Ancient  and  Honourable  Fraternity  of 
Free   and  Accepted  Masons ;    containing    their    History,   Charges, 
Regulations,    &c.      Collected  and  digested  by  order   of  the    Grand 
Lodge,  from  their  Old  Records.     For  the  Use  of  the  Lodges      By 


68          THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

masonry,  which  ought  to  have  been  preserved,  as  they  did 
honour  both  to  his  head  and  his  heart.5  I  must  confess 
I  had  a  great  respect  for  Bro.  En  tick.  He  was  an  active 
man,  and  a  dear  lover  of  Masonry;  and  I  was  exceeding- 
ly sorry  when  fate,  in  the  shape  of  a  vote  of  the  Lodge, 
threw  me  into  other  hands. 

"After  this  I  passed  two  years  of  severe  probation,  for 
the  Masters  were  inefficient,  and  the  Brethren  began  to 
be  very  slack  in  their  attendance ;  in  fact,  at  the  close  of 
the  year,  our  Lodge  was  hors  de  combat.  The  latter  of 
these  worthies  was  inordinately  addicted  to  the  prevailing 
convivialities  of  the  age,  and  introduced  amongst  us  the 
exploded  custom  of  drinking  and  smoking  in  open  Lodge, 
an  evil  practice,  destructive  of  all  scientific  investigation. 
I  admit  that  he  was  not  a  solitary  exception  to  the  stand- 
ing order,  that,  *  no  Brother  do  presume  to  come  into  the 
Lodge  intoxicated,  or  on  any  account  whatever  to  call  for 
wine  or  liquors  in  open  Lodge,  but  to  address  himself  to 
the  stewards  or  wardens,  who,  if  they  think  it  necessary, 
will  give  their  orders  accordingly,'  for  there  were  many 
existing  Lodges  whose  sole  business  appeared  to  be  sensual 
indulgence,  but  they  were  carefully  avoided  by  every  sin- 
cere friend  of  the  Order.  Many  protests  were  entered 
against  the  practice  by  the  remaining  few  discreet  members 
of  our  Lodge  without  effect :  the  nuisance  was  not  abated ; 
and  even  the  lecture — when  we  had  the  good  fortune  to 
hear  one — was  delivered  amidst  volumes  of  smoke,  which 
rivalled  in  intensity  the  reeking  impurities  of  a  burning 
prairie,  and  interrupted  by  frequent  calls  to  the  land- 
James  Anderson,  D.  D.  Carefully  revised,  continued,  and  enlarged, 
with  many  additions,  by  John  Entick,  M.A."  London,  Baldwin, 
Davey,  and  Law,  1756,  "  The  Constitutions,  &o."  By  J.  Entick, 
M.A.  A  new  edition,  with  Alterations  and  Additions,  by  a  Committee 
appointed  by  the  Grand  Lodge.  London,  Johnston,  1767.  "Appen- 
dix to  the  Constitutions  of  the  Society  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons." 
1776. 

5  "  The  Free  and  Accepted  Mason  described,  in  a  Sermon  preached 
at  St.  Stephen,  Walbrook,  June  25,  1750,  by  John  Entick,  A.M." 
London,  Scott,  1750.  .  "The  Free  and  Accepted  Mason  truly 
stated."  Preached  by  J.  Entick,  from  Acts  xxviii.,  22.  "A  True 
Representation  of  Freemasonry;  in  a  Lecture^  delivered  at  the 
King's  Head  Lodge,  in  the  Poultry,  London,  March  20,  1751,  by  J. 
Entick,  A.M."  "  A  Caution  to  Free  and  Accepted  Masons;  a  Ser- 
mon preached  at  St.  Mildred,  rn  the  Poultry,  Oct.  26,  1752,  by  J. 
Entick,  A.M."  London,  Scott,  1752. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          69 

lord  for  beer  and  strong  waters,  and  the  jingling  of  pots 
and  glasses !  Forgetting  thefavete  linguis  of  the  old  mys- 
teries, the  enjoyment  of  every  Brother  seemed  to  centre 
in  himself  alone;  and  this  unhallowed  triad  of  lecturing, 
smoking,  and  drinking  at  one  and  the  same  time,  bestrode 
the  Brethren  like  the  old  man  of  the  sea  on  the  neck  oi 
Sinbad,  and  they  possessed  no  means  of  liberation  but  by 
dissolving  their  connection  with  the  Lodge ;  and  thus  the 
Institution  was  deprived  of  some  of  its  most  valuable 
members. 

"  This  R.  W.  M.,  whose  name,  for  various  reasons,  I 
have  purposely  omitted  to  mention,  as  if  determined  to 
give  the  Lodge  its  couj)  de  grace,  introduced  a  contest  for 
superiority  between  the  old  and  several  young  members, 
who  understood  very  imperfectly  the  true  principles  of 
the  Order,  and  entered  warmly  in*to  the  dispute  for  the 
sake  of  excitement  and  mischief.  The  juniors  were  at 
first  always  defeated  in  the  numerous  motions  and  sub- 
jects of  discussion  which  they  nightly  poured  forth  upon 
the  Lodge,  with  as  little  judgment  as  Sancho  Panza 
exhibited  in  the  application  of  his  proverbs;  but  being 
encouraged  by  the  Master,  they  succeeded  in  procuring 
an  accession  to  their  numbers  by  the  introduction  of  can- 
didates for  initiation,  till,  at  length,  the  old  members 
were  in  a  minority.  The  undisguised  marks  of  triumph 
which  the  juniors  displayed,  so  disgusted  their  more 
sedate  Brethren,  that  they  dropped  off  gradually,  until 
the  Lodge  was  left  to  the  sole  management  of  the  inju- 
dicious Master,  and  his  superficial  associate?.  I  need  not 
tell  you  the  result.  After  the  paeans  of  victory  had  sub- 
sided, and  the  excitement  of  the  contest  was  at  an  end, 
these  boon  companions  found  Masonry  but  a  dull  affair, 
and  soon  followed  the  example  of  those  worthy  Brethren 
whom  they  had  driven  from  the  Lodge,  by  discontinuing 
their  attendance;  until,  at  length,  we  received  a  sum- 
mons, dated  17th  October,  1776,  and  signed  'Samuel 
Spencer,  Grand  Secretary,'  requiring  us,  under  the  pe- 
nalty of  erasure,  to  show  cause,  at  the  ensuing  Quarterly 
Communication,  why  the  Lodge  had  not  been  represente'd 
in  Grand  Lodge  for  the  last  two  years,  and  no  subscrip- 
tions paid.  Fortunately,  the  remaining  few  members 
who  had  faithfully  adhered  to  the  Lodge  amidst  all  its 
fluctuations, — if  not  by  actual  attendance,  at  least  by 


70          THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

continuing  on  the  books, — interfered,  and  by  inviting  an 
active  and  scientific  member,  Bro.  James  Heseltine,  who 
had  served  the  office  of  Warden  under  Bro.  Entick,  to 
take  the  chair,  restored  the  peace  and  unanimity  of  the 
^odge. 

"  Many  of  the  continental  fancies  and  innovations,  ex- 
tracted from  the-  Jewish  Talmuds,  and  introduced  into 
their  surreptitious  Masonry,  were  much  talked  of  in  our 
Lodges  at  this  period ;  and  some  of  them  were  absolutely 
incorporated  into  our  symbolical  ritual,  which  was  one 
reason  why  an  authorized  mode  of  working  was  con- 
sidered by  all  genuine  Masons  to  be  essentially  necessary. 
The  rage  for  something  new  in  England,  as  formerly  in 
Athens,  was  not  easily  suppressed,  and  a  knowledge  of 
these  traditions  was  deemed  indispensable  for  every 
Brother  who  was  ambftious  of  enjoying  the  reputation 
of  being  an  adept  in  Masonry.  One  of  these  traditions 
you  will  like  to  hear,  as  it  continued  for  a  great  length 
of  time  a  cherished  figment  amongst  us.  It  refers  to  the 
history  of  the  Foundation  Stone  of  Solomon's  Temple, 
which  was  traced  in  the  legend  from  Enoch  through 
Noah,  Abraham,  and  Solomon,  to  the  apostate  Emperor 
Julian  by  the  following  process.  They  described  it  as  a 
double  cube,  every  side,  except  the  base  on  which  it 
stood,  being  inscribed.  The  first  face  of  the  cube  was 
said  to  have  been  engraved  by  Noah  with  an  instrument 
of  porphyry  when  the  Ark  was  building ;  the  second,  by 
Abraham,  with  the  horn  of  the  ram — credat  Judaeus! — 
which  was  substituted  for  his  son  on  Mount  Moriah !  the 
third,  with  a  porphyry  tool  by  Moses;  the  fourth,  by 
Joshua;  and  the  fifth  by  Hiram  Abiff,  before  it  was  de- 
posited in  its  final  bed  at  the  north-east  angle  of  the 
Temple.  Having  been  placed  by  Enoch  in  the  basement 
of  his  subterranean  edifice,  it  was  discovered  by  Noah, 
and  used  as  an  anchor  to  fix  the  Ark  on  Mount  Ararat. 
Abraham  took  it  thence  to  Mount  Moriah,  where  it  con- 
stituted the  altar  on  which  he  offered  Isaac.  It  formed 
the  pillow  of  Jacob  when  he  saw  his  celestial  vision  of 
ihe  ladder,  and  accompanied  him  in  all  his  wanderings. 
He  bequeathed  it  to  Joseph  in  Egypt,  who  directed  it 
to  be  placed  over  his  grave.  Moses  took  it  with  him,  at 
the  great  deliverance,  into  the  wilderness  of  Arabia.  He 
itood  upon  this  remarkable  stone  when  the  Red  Sea  was 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  71 

divided,  and  when  the  Amalekites,  were  defeated ;  knelt 
on  it  when  the  Tables  of  the  Law  were  delivered  on 
Mount  Sinai;  and  finally  commended  it  to  the  care  of 
Joshua,  who  built  his  altar  on  it  at  Mount  Ebal.  It  was 
deposited  in  the  Sanctuary  at  Shilo,  until  the  Temple 
was  erected  at  Jerusalem,  when  Solomon  directed  it  to 
be  placed  in  the  foundation  as  the  chief  corner-stone. 
Here  it  remained  undisturbed  either  by  Zerubabel  or 
Herod,  as  it  was  destined  to  defeat  the  insane  attempt  of 
Julian  to  rebuild  the  Temple,  which  it  effected  by  de- 
stroying his  workmen  through  the  agency  of  fire.6 

"  A  similar  fiction  about  the  Rod  of  Moses  was  also 
imported  from  the  Continent,  which  was  traced  from  the 
Paradisiacal  Tree  of  Knowledge;7  another  about  the 
institution  of  Templary,  which,  as  it  was  said,  had  its 
origin  in  Egypt  before  the  Exodus;8  that  Moses  and 
Aaron,  having  been  initiated  into  its  mysteries,  brought 
it  with  them  into  Judaea;  that  thence  it  passed  through 
the  two  St.  Johns  to  the  Crusades,  &c. ;  and  a  fourth, 
about  the  imaginary  travels  of  Peleg,  and  the  erection  of 
his  triangular  Temple.9  We  had  another,  which  re- 
counted the  pseudo-history  of  Hiram  AbifF;  and  many 
similar  ones,  which  it  would  be  a  waste  of  time  to 
mention.  It  may  be  necessary  to  addj  that  these  fables 
were  not  countenanced  by  any  but  some  young  and 
inexperienced  Brethren,  who  were  ambitious  of  being 
accounted  cleverer  and  brighter  Masons  than  their  fel- 

6  These  legends  are  equally  apocryphal  with  those  of  the  Scottish 
fabulists  about  the  same  stone.     They  feign  that,  from  the  time  of 
Jacob,  who  used  this  stone  for  a  pillow,  it  was  preserved  in  Spain 
till  Gathol,  king  of  the  Scots,  ruled  over  Gallicia,  and  that  he  used  it 
for  a  throne.     That  Simon  Brech,  another  Scottish  monarch,  about 
700  years  before  Christ,  or  about  the  time  when  Rome  was  built, 
conveyed  it  into  Ireland,  where  it  remained  for  three  or  four  centu- 
ries before  it  was  translated  into  Scotland.      When  there,  it  was 
installed  in  the  Abbey  of  Scone,  as  a  palladium,  and  enclosed  in  an 
oaken  chair  by  king  Kenneth,  on  which  the  following  verse  was  en- 
graven : — 

"Ni  fallal  fatum,  Scoti  quocunque  locatum. 
Invenient  lapidem,  regnare  tcnentur  ibidem." 

This  stone  and  chair  were  deposited  in  Westminster  Abbey,  A.D. 
1296,  where  they  still  remain.  Utrum  horum  mavis  accipe  ! 

7  This  legend  may  be  found  in  the   Hist.   Landmarks,  vol.  ii., 
p.  599. 

8  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  24.  9  Ibid.,  v->l.  i.,  p.  63. 

4* 


72          THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

lows.  And  you  would  have  been  astonished  to  see  the 
absurd  airs  of  importance  which  the  possessors  of  these 
fabulous  conceits  assumed  when  the  conversation  of  a 
Lodge  happened  to  turn  upon  the  abstruse  subject  of 
cabalistical  acquirements." 

My  tongue  itched  to  inquire  into  the  particulars  of 
the  history  of  Hiram  AbifF,  and  I  had  some  difficulty  to 
restrain  my  curiosity.  My  companion  observed  the 
movement,  and  interpreted  it  correctly.  "  You  wish  to 
learn  something  of  the  reputed  private  history  of  this 
eminent  Freemason,"  he  said;  "but  I  am  not  quite  sure 
that  I  shall  be  able  to  gratify  your  curiosity,  for  conjec- 
ture, after  all,  is  no  great  authority.  You  shall  hear 
some  of  the  legends,  however,  if  it  will  afford  you  any 
satisfaction.  Our  continental  Brethren  identified  Hiram 
AbifF  with  Jesus  Christ,  and  endeavoured  to  prove  that 
his  history  was  an  allegory  of  the  Crucifixion.  They 
contended  that  the  word  fi^n  meant,  He  thai  existed  from 
all  eternity — T.  Gr.  A.  0.  T.  U. — Christ;10  and  asserted 
that  in  ancient  times  seven  days  was  the  legitimate 
interval  between  the  ceremony  of  raising  a  candidate, 
and  communicating  to  him  the  secrets  of  a  Master 
Mason,  in  allusion  to  the  period  of  mourning  for  his 
death,  which,  amongst  the  Jews,  was  seven  days,  as  in 
the  recorded  instance  of  the  lamentations  of  Joseph  for 
his  father  Jacob  ;  and  the  same  period  intervened  between 
the  resurrection  of  Christ  and  his  public  appearance  to 
bis  disciples  to  remove  the  unbelief  of  Thomas.  And 
in  recounting  the  history  of  Masonry,  they  feigned  that 
the  art  and  mystery  of  the  Order  was  first  introduced  at 
the  building  of  the  tower  of  Babel ;  and  from  thence 
handed  down  by  Euclid,  a  worthy  and  excellent  mathe- 
matician of  Egypt;  that  he  communicated  it  to  Hiram 
AbifF,  under  whom,  at  the  building  of  the  Temple  of 
Solomon,  was  an  expert  architect  called  Mannon  Grecus, 
who,  travelling  westward  after  the  Temple  was  com- 
pleted, taught  the  art  of  Masonry  to  Carol  us  Marcel, 
King  of  France,  from  whence  it  was  transplanted  into 

10  The  passage  in  my  authority  is  thus  stated:  "When  we  divide 
the  word  d^ifi  Hiram  into  two  syllables  dVfi  Hay-ram,  the  trans- 
lation of  this  word  is,  He  who  exists,  &c.,  which  explains  the  Mas- 
ter's Sign." 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         73 

England  in  the  time  of  Athelstan,  who  commanded  the 
Brethren  to  assemble  annually  in  the  city  of  York.! 

"  They  further  stated,  that  the  Stylus  with  which 
Hiram  Abiff  drew  his  plans  and  designs,  and  engraved 
that  mysterious  diagram  on  the  foundation-stone  of  the 
Temple,  which  is  now  known  as  the  47th  Proposition 
of  Euclid,  was  found  on  his  person  at  his  raising,  and 
was  ordered  by  Solomon  to  be  placed  in  his  monument. 
I  omit  the  fable  of  his  marriage  with  the  sister  of  Prince 
Adoniram,  his  death,  burial,  monument,  obelisk,  with  its 
circles,  squares,  and  columns,  and  Solomon's  bitter 
mourning,  together  with  the  distraction  and  suicide  of 
his  widow,  because,  I  dare  say,  you  are  heartily  sick  of 
this  absurd  jumble  of  truth  and  fiction,  where  Euclid  is 
made  contemporary  with  the  dispersion  from  Shinar,  and 
Hiram  Abiff  brother  to  the  Carthaginian  Hanno. 

"Our  Brethren,  however,  amidst  all  their  fondness  for 
continental  innovations  and  Jewish  legends,  were  not  so 
ungallant  to  the  softer  sex  as  to  introduce  that  graceless 
illustration  of  the  Valley  of  Jehoshaphat,  or  the  holy 
ground  on  which  the  Lodge  is  placed,  that  was  used  by 
the  French  Masons,  viz.,  as  *  a  place  of  peace,  harmony, 
and  concord,  where  cock  never  crows,  women  never 
brawl,  nor  lion  ever  roars.'  "n 

Here  I  was  about  to  violate  our  compact  by  repudi- 
ating the  application  of  these  puerilities  to  the  Masons 
of  the  present  day,  when  my  mentor  hastily  moved  one 
of  his  limbs  forward,  with  an  admonitory  swagger,  and 
cried  out,  "Hold!  speak  not,  answer  not;  the  sound  of 
the  human  voice  will  annihilate  my  colloquial  powers! 
I  acquit  you  of  any  participation  in  these  fabulous  inven- 
tions. They  were  excusable  a  century  ago,  when  the 
million  could  neither  read  nor  write,  and  were  obliged 
to  take  on  credit  every  vague  assertion  of  those  who  had 
the  advantage  of  mental  culture;  and,  therefore,  you 
need  not  wonder  that  in  times  when  the  fables  of  King 
Arthur  and  his  Raven,  the  Seven  Champions,  Mother 
Shipton,  and  the  Predictions  of  Nostrodamus  arid  the 
Double-thumbed  Miller,  were  implicitly  credited,  there 

11  The  ladies  of  France  amply  revenged  themselves  by  instituting 
a  Freemasonry  of  their  own,  and  every  principal  town  in  France 
goon  exhibited  its  Lodge  of  Adoption. 


74  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

should  be  found  many  believers  in  the  spurious  legends 
of  continental  Masonry.12 

" 1  have  taken  the  liberty  of  digressing  at  this  particu- 
lar period,"  continued  the  Square,  "  because  I  have 
nothing  favourable  to  reveal  respecting  the  transactions 
of  our  Lodge  under  an  inefficient  Master ;  but  when  I 
passed  to  Brother  Hesletine,  our  numbers  were  soon 
recruited.  It  is  true,  masonic  impostors  and  masonic 
pretenders  were  numerous  and  active  ;  but  our  R.  W.  M. 
was  ever  on  the  alert,  and  knew  all  the  vulnerable  points 
of  the  enemy's  position.  Thus  he  was  able,  by  a  series 
of  judicious  and  well-timed  exposures  of  the  iniquity  of 
the  one  and  the  moral  degradation  of  the  other,  to  silence 
the  gainsayers,  and  put  the  scoffers  to  open  shame.  He 
made  them  feel  that  men  who  are  willing  to  prostitute 
their  time  and  talent  for  the  questionable  purpose  of 
gratifying  a  prurient  curiosity,  are  open  to  the  operation 
of  public  opinion,  which,  when  rightly  directed,  is  sure 
to  cover  them  with  confusion  and  disgrace. 

"  Brother  Hesletine  was  extremely  anxious  that  the 
Craft  should  enjoy  the  blessings  of  uniformity  in  disci- 
pline and  work.  And  to  contribute  to  the  accomplish- 
ment of  so  desirable  an  end,  he  spared  neither  time  nor 
expense;  and  not  only  visited  every  London  Lodge,  but 
made  excursions  to  the  most  distant  parts  of  the  island. 
Wherever  he  heard  of  a  Lodge  which  was  celebrated  for 
either  the  one  or  the  other,  that  Lodge  was  certain  of  a 

H  Amongst  the  continental  Masons  of  this  period,  and  I  believe 
also  in  the  United  States,  the  following  vocabulary  was  used  : — 
1.  Initiated.  2.  Passed.  3.  Raised.  4.  Mark  Master,  Congratu- 
lated. 5.  Past  Master,  Presided.  6.  Most  Excellent  Master,  Ac- 
knowledged and  Received.  7.  Royal  Arch,  Exalted  in  a  Chapter. 
And  further,  an  assembly  of  Knights  Templars,  was  called  an  Eii- 
carnpment;  of  Knights  of  the  Red  Cross  and  Prince  of  Jerusalem,  a 
Council ;  of  Knights  of  the  Christian  Mark,  a  Conclave ;  of  Illus- 
trious Knighfs,  a  Grand  Chapter;  of  Knights  of  the  East  and  West, 
a  Grand  C  ancil;  of  the  Grand  Patriarch.  Prince  of  Libanus,  a 
College;  of  Chief  of  the  Tabernacle,  a  Sovereign  Council;  of  Prince 
of  the  Tabernacle,  a  Hierarchy ;  of  Knights  of  the  Brazen  Serpent, 
a  Court  of  Sinai;  of  Prince  of  Mercy,  the  Third  Heaven;  of  Sove- 
reign Commander  of  the  Temple  at  Jerusalem,  a  Court ;  of  Kadosh, 
Areopagus ;  of  Princes  of  the  Royal  Secret,  a  Consistory ;  of  Rose 
Croix,  a  Sovereign  Chapter;  of  Grand  Inquisitor  Commander,  a 
Sovereign  Tribunal ;  and  of  Sovereign  Grand  Inspector-  General,  a 
Convocation. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          75 

visit  from  him.  He  became  acquainted  with  all  the 
different  systems  of  work  which  presented  themselves  to 
his  notice,  accompanied  by  their  respective  Tests  or 
Examination  Questions,  and  he  found  that  every  variety 
of  lecture  was  in  practice  which  had  been  used  from  the 
time  of  Desaguliers  and  Anderson  to  the  moment  of 
inquiry.  It  is  a  great  pity,"  the  Square  apostrophized, 
"that  these  important  marks  of  distinction  were  not 
considered  as  unalterable  as  the  S.  T.  &  W.  A  collec- 
tion of  them  would,  I  should  think,  be  a  great  curiosity ; 
and  if  you  will  listen  attentively,  I  will  repeat  them  from 
Brother  Hesletine's  notes." 

Observing  that  I  took  up  my  pen  to  jot  them  down, 
the  Square  hastily  added,  "  Hold,  hold !  my  good  friend  ! 
mind  what  you  are  about !  I  feel  myself  authorised, 
without  any  indiscretion,  to  communicate  to  you,  viva 
voce,  both  the  questions  and  the  answers  of  these  curious 
Tests ;  but  whether,  consistently  with  your  0.  B.,  you 
can  commit  to  paper  anything  more  than  the  simple 
questions,  which,  of  themselves  convey  no  information, 
is  for  you  to  determine,  when  you  have  taken  a  deliber- 
ate view  of  the  moral  responsibility  attached  to  such  an 
act." 

Having  said  this,  my  strange  companion  receded  a  few 
steps,  to  allow  me  time  for  deliberation-;  and  the  wisdom 
of  his  remark  appearing  incontestable,  I  determined  to 
act  on  his  advice,  and  take  down  the  questions  only. 
The  Square  then  proceeded. 

"  The  Tests  of  Masonry  were  at  that  time  generally 
denominated  Examination  Questions,  and  may  be  con- 
sidered, not  merely  as  curious  illustrations  of  individual 
feeling  at  the  consecutive  periods  of  its  onward  progress, 
but  as  absolute  landmarks  to  distinguish  true  from 
pretended  Freemasonry,  which  were  periodically  con- 
sidered necessary  by  the  master  minds  who  successively 
appeared  on  the  masonic  stage;  and  being  arbitrary  in 
their  character,  were  occasionally  changed,  that  the 
impostor  might  be  more  easily  detected,  and  the  cowan 
more  effectually  exposed. 

"  Ihe  most  ancient  formula,"  said  the  Square,  "  that  I 
ever  heard  mentioned  by  Sir  C.  Wren,  was  that  which  he 
himself  used,  and  he  pronounced  its  origin  to  be  of  a 
remote  and  unknown  antiquity.  The  questions  were 


76          THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

fifty  in  number,  and  all  of  the  greatest  importance. 
These  were  reduced  to  fifteen  when  used  as  a  preliminary 
examination,  thus: — i.  What  o'clock  is  it?  2.  How  go 
Squares?  3.  Which  is  the  point  of  your  entry?  4. 
How  many  particular  points  pertain  to  a  Freemason? 

5.  How  many  proper  points?     6.  Why  do  odds  make  a 
Lodge?     7.  What  Lodge  are  you  of?     8.  Where  is  the 
Mason's  point  ?     9.  Who  rules  and  governs  the  Lodge  as 
its  Master?     10.  How  many  angles  in  St.  John's  Lodge? 

11.  How  many  steps  belong  to  a  right  Mason?     12.  Give 
me  the  solution?     13.  What  is  the  Jerusalem  Word? 
14.  What  is  the  Universal  Word?     15.  What  is  the  right 
word  or  right' point  of  a  Mason?     These  Tests  ought 
never  to  have  been  altered,  because  every  answer  is  a 
landmark. 

"  The  succeeding  formula  was  introduced  by  Desagu- 
Liers  and  Anderson  at  the  revival  in  1717 ;  and  though 
not  destined  to  a  very  long  reign,  they  were  perspicuous 
and  expressive,  and  a  brief  summary  of  their  contents 
were  embodied  in  the  following  Tests : — 1.  I.  T.  B.  G.  C. 
T.  H.  A.  T.  E.  2.  What  is  the  place  of  the  senior 
apprentice?  3.  What  are  the  fixed  lights?  4.  How 
ought  the  R.  W.  M.  to  be  served  ?  5.  What  is  the  pun- 
ishment of  a  Go  wan?  6.  What  is  the  bone  bone-box? 
7.  How  is  it  said  to  be  opened?  8.  By  what  is  the  key 
suspended?  9.  What  is  the  proper  clothing  of  a  Mason? 
10.  What  is  a  Mason's  brand?  11.  How  high  was  the 
door  of  the  middle  chamber?  12.  What  does  this  stone 
smell  of?  13.  Can  you  tell  me  the  name  of  an  E.  A.  P., 
of  a  F.  C.,  and  of  a  M.  M.  ?  14.  H.  T.  W.  P.  0.  T.  T.  P.  0. 
T.  T.  i 

"  The  Lectures  or  Examinations  having  been  remodel- 
led about  the  year  1730  by  Martin  Clare,  he  thought  it 
expedient  to  alter  the  Tests ;  and  his  category  was 
approved  by  the  Grand  Lodge.  It  was  as  follows: — 
1.  Whence  came  you?  2.  Who  brought  you  here?  3. 
What  recommendation  do  you  bring  ?  4.  Do  you  know 
the  secrets  of  Masonry?  5.  Where  do  you  keep  them? 

6.  Have  you  the  key?     7.  Where  is  it  deposited?     8. 
When  you  were  made  a  Mason,  what  did  you  consider 
most  desirable?     9.  What  is  the  name  of  your  Lodge? 
10.  Where  is  it  situated?     11.  What  is  its  foundation? 

12.  How  did  you  enter  the  Temple  of  Solomon  ?     How 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  77 

many  windows  did  you  see  there  ?  14.  What  is  the  duty 
of  the  youngest  apprentice  ?  15.  Have  you  ever  worked 
as  a  Mason?  16.  What  did  you  work  with?  17.  Salute 
me  as  a  Mason. 

"  This  arrangement  lasted  ten  years,  and  was  super- 
seded by  an  improved  series  of  Examination  Questions 
promulgated  by  Dr.  Manningham,  and  adopted  by  most 
of  the  metropolitan  and  several  provincial  Lodges.  Be 
careful  that  you  take  them  down  correctly,  for  they  are 
so  ingeniously  Constructed,  that  the  omission  or  altera- 
tion of  a  single  word  may  cause  a  mystification  that  will 
not  be  easily  unravelled.  1.  Where  were  you  made  a 
Mason?  2.  What  did  you  learn  there?  3.  How  do  you 
hope  to  be  rewarded?  4.  What  access  have  you  to  that 
Grand  Lodge  ?  5.  How  many  steps  ?  6.  What  are  their 
names  ?  7.  How  many  qualifications  are  required  in  a 
Mason?  8.  What  is  the  standard  of  a  Mason's  faith? 
9.  What  is  the  standard  of  his  actions?  10.  Can  you 
name  the  peculiar  characteristics  of  a  Mason's  Lodge  ? 
1 1 .  What  is  the  interior  composed  of?  12.  Why  are  we 
termed  Brethren  ?  13.  By  what  badge  is  a  Mason  distin- 
guished? 14.  To  what  do  the  reports  refer?  15.  How 
many  principal  points  are  there  in  Masonry?  16.  To 
what  do  they  refer?  17.  Their  names.  18.  The  allusion. 

"These  Tests  continued  unaltered  down  to  the  period 
of  which  I  am  speaking.  A  very  talented  Mason  was 
now  rising  into  notice,  who  was  destined  to  effect  organic 
changes  in  the  system.  I  shall  reveal  his  improvements 
in  due  course ;  and  he  is  introduced  here  simply  because 
he  was  the  author  of  a  brief  paper  of  questions,  which 
he  considered  more  characteristic  than  any  that  had 
preceded  them.  I  allude  to  Brother  Dunckerley,  a  name 
which  will  live  as  long  as  Masonry  shall  endure.  His 
Tests  were  only  ten  in  number,  but  each  possessed  a 
significant  reference  to  some  important  landmark  of  the 
Order.  1.  How  ought  a  Mason  to  be  clothed  ?  2.  When 
were  you  born?  3.  Where  were  you  born?  4.  How 
were  you  born?  5.  Did  you  endure  the  brand  with 
fortitude  and  patience  ?  6.  The  situation  of  the  Lodge  ? 
7.  What  is  its  name  ?  8.  With  what  have  you  worked 
as  a  Mason  ?  9.  Explain  the  Sprig  of  Cassia.  19.  How  old 
are  you  ? 

"About  this  period,"  the  Square  proceeded  to  say, 
"  a  young  man  named  Preston  armeared  iu  town  from 


78          THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

the  north,  and  was  initiated  in  an  Athol  Lodge,  where 
he  displayed  such  extraordinary  intelligence  and  zeal  as 
elicited  the  applause  of  all  classes  of  the  Fraternity. 
Our  R.  W.  M.,  Bro.  Hesletine,  heard  of  his  fame,  and 
sought  his  acquaintance.  An  attachment  sprang  up 
between  them,  which  produced  sbme  extraordinary 
results.  Bro.  Hesletine  induced  him  to  dissolve  his  con- 
nection with  the  Athol  Masons,  and  to  legitimatize  him- 
self in  a  constitutional  Lodge.  This  young  man,  as  the 
first  fruits  of  his  labours,  placed  in  the  hands  of  our  R. 
W.  M.  a  new  arrangement  of  the  Tests,  which,  though 
not  actually  introduced  till  a  later  period,  were  read  in 
the  Lodge,  and  highly  approved  by  the  Brethren.  He 
divided  them  into  three  sections  of  seven  questions  each 
arid  they  contained,  as  you  will  hear,  some  novelties. 
First  Section. — 1.  Whither  are  you  bound?  2.  Are  you 
a  Mason?  3.  How  do  you  know  that?  4.  How  will 
you  prove  it  to  me  ?  5.  Where  were  you  made  a  Mason  ? 
6.  When  were  you  made  a  Mason  ?  7.  By  whom  were 
you  made  a  Mason  ?  Second  Section. — i.  From  whence 
come  you?  2.  "What  recommendation  do  you  bring? 

3.  Any  other  recommendation  ?     4.  Where  are  the  secrets 
of  Masonry  kept  ?     5.  To  whom  do  you  deliver  them  ? 

6.  How  do  you  deliver  them?     7.  In  what  manner  do 
you  serve  your  Master  ?     Third  Section. — 1 .  What  is  your 
name  ?     2.    What  is  the   name   of  your  son  ?     3.  If  a 
Brother  were  lost,  where  should  you  hope  to  find  him  ? 

4.  How  should  you  except  him  to  be  clothed  ?     5.  How 
blows  a  Mason's   wind?     6.  Why  does  it  thus   blow? 

7,  What  time  is  it  ? 13 

"  In  this  country,  in  accordance  with  ancient  practice, 
we  admit  only  three  degrees ;  but  on  the  continent  the 

13  To  complete  this  catalogue  of  masonic  Tests  it  might  seem 
necessary  to  subjoin  the  Qualification  Question?  of  Hemming  and 
Shadbolt.  But  these  are  so  well  known  amongst  the  Craft  that  it 
would  be  a  work  of  supererogation  to  insert  them  here.  And  it 
would  savour  of  egotism  if  I  were  to  introduce  a  series  of  Questions 
which  I  myself  arranged  a  few  years  ago  for  the  same  purpose.  They 
consist  of  nine  sections ;  i.  e.  three  to  each  Degree,  containing  eighty- 
one  questions  in  the  whole,  or  nine  to  every  section;  systematically 
constructed  on  the  principle  of  trichotomy,  and  prominently  exhibit- 
ing most  of  the  chief  Landmarks  of  antiquity.  Thus  each  one  of  our 
Triad  of  Degrees  has  a  triad  of  sections;  and  the  Questions  in  each 
section  are  a  triad  of  triads  ;  having  been  studiously  arranged  in  'a 
trinal  form.  I  have  found  them  in  practice  exceedingly  useful,  being 
acquired  with  great  facility,  and  easily  retained  in  the  memory. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          79 

bst  was  swelled  out  to  the  enormous  category  of  twenty 
degrees  of  Apprentice,14  twenty-three  of  Fellowcraft,15 
and  sixty  of  Master.16  Although  such  innovations  were 
prevalent  in  France  and  Germany,  and  found  their  way 
secretly  amongst  ourselves,  yet  they  received  no  sanc- 
tion from  the  masonic  authorities,  and  the  Fraternity 
were  cautioned  to  beware  how  they  introduced  any  of 
the  foreign  fallacies  into  their  Lodges.  In  many  cases, 
however,  curiosity  prevailed  over  expediency,  and  indi- 
viduals received  them  as  genuine  masonic  truths,  and 
had  no  little  pride  in  their  acquisition. 

"  About  this  time  a  remarkable  Essay,  on  the  applica- 

14  These  were,  besides  the  simple  E.  A.  P.  of  primitive  Masonry, 
an  Apprentice  Architect ;  App.  Perfect  Architect ;  App.  Prussian 
Architect ;  Cabalistic  App.  ;  Coen  App.  ;  App.  of  Paracelsus  ;  Egyp- 
tian App.  ;  Secret  Egyptian  App.  ;  Female  Egyptian  App. ;  Scotch 
App. ;  Scotch  Trinitarian  App. ;  Hermetic  App. ;  Male  App. ;  Fe- 
male App. ;  Adoptive  App.  ;  Mystical  App.  ;  App.  Philosopher  of 
the  number  nine;  App.  Hermetic  Philosopher ;  App.  Philosopher  of 
the  number  three  ;  and  the  Theosophic  App. 

15  For  the  second  degree  they  admitted  a  Folio vvcraft  Mason ;  F.  C. 
Architect;  F.  C.' Perfect  Architect;  F.  C.  Prussian  Architect;  Ca- 
balistic F.  C. ;  F.  C.  Coen  ;  F.  C.  of  Paracelsus  ;  Scotch  F.  C. ;  Scotch 
Trinitarian  F.  C.  ;  Egyptian  F.  C.  ;  Hermetic  F.  C. ;  Mystic  F.  C. ; 
F.  C.  Hermetic  Philosopher;  F.  C.  Philosopher  by  the  number  three ; 
F.  C.  Sublime  Philosopher  by  the  number  three ;  F.  C.  Philosopher 
by  the  number  nine  ;  F.C.  by  the  number  fifteen ;  Theosophic  F..  C. ; 
Biblical  F.  C.  ;  Discrete  F.  C. ;  Female   F.    C. ;  Female   Egyptian 
F.  C. ;  and  Obligated  F.  C. 

18  And  as  a  corollary  to  these  fictitious  degrees,  they  had  an  English 
Master ;  a  Little  English  Master  ;  Ancient  M. ;  Grand  Architect  M. ; 
Perfect  Architect  M.  ;  Prussian  Architect  M. ;  M.  by  the  number 
fifteen ;  M.  of  all  degrees  ;  Cabalistic  M. ;  Coen  M. ;  Crowned  M.  ; 
M.  of  the  Key  of  Masonry ;  M.  of  English  Lodges ;  M.  of  French 
Lodges  ;  Mark  M. ;  M.  of  Paracelsic  Masonry  ;  M.  of  Neapolitan 
Chapters  ;  M.  of  Legitimate  Lodges ;  M.  of  Masters ;  Most  High 
arid  Puissant  M.  of  Masters ;  Perfect  M. ;  Perfect  M.  of  Secrets ; 
Perfect  English  M.  ;  M.  of  Egyptian  Secrets ;  M.  of  Hermetic 
Secrets  ;  Scotch  M. ;  Egyptian  M. ;  Elect  M.  of  nine  ;  Little  Elect  M.  ; 
M.  in  Israel;  M.  in  Perfect  Architecture;  Hermetic  M. ;  Illustrious 
M. ;  Illustrious  M.  of  the  number  fifteen  ;  Illustrious  M.  of  the  Seven 
Cabalistic  Secrets  ;  Irish  M.  ;  Perfect  Irish  M. ;  Puissant  Irish  M. ; 
Provost  Irish  M. ;  Symbolic  M. ;  Mystic  M.  ;  M.  by  Curiosity ; 
Perfect  Hamburg  M. ;  Particular  M. ;  Past  M. ;  M.  of  Hermetic 
Philosophy ;  Philosophical  M.  by  the  number  three  ;  Philosophical 
M.  by  the  number  nine ;  Pythagorean  M. ;  Four  Times  Venerable  M. ; 
Royal  M.  ;  Wise  M. ;  Secret  M. ;  Illustrious  Symbolical  M. ;  Sublime 
Ancient  M. ;  Theosophic  M. ;  M.  ad  vitam  ;  True  M. ;  and  Absolute 
M. 


80          THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

tion  of  Geometry  to  the  requirements  of  moral  duty,  was 
circulated  amongst  the  Lodges.17  It  was  adapted  to 
symbolical  Masonry  alone,  and  was  generally  attributed 
to  the  pen  of  Bro.  Dunckerley.  But  in  1768  a  severe 
attack  on  Masonry  was  commenced  by  an  anonymous 
writer,  who  published  a  pamphlet  under  the  extraordinary 
title  of  "  Masonry  the  Way  to  Hell,"18  which  created 
some  sensation  amongst  the  Metropolitan  Craft,  and  pro- 
duced a  paper  war.  I  remember  hearing  a  discussion  on 
the  subject  in  our  Lodge.  Some  Brethren  were  inclined 
to  understand  it  as  a  serious  attack  on  the  Order,  while 
others  considered  it  only  as  an  ill-natured  joke ;  how- 
ever, it  was  concluded  that  the  only  way  of  ascertain- 
ing the  real  sentiments  of  the  autnor  would  be  to  feel 
his  pulse  by  a  reply.  Bro.  Thompson  was,  therefore, 
deputed  to  answer  it,  which  he  admirably  effected;19  and 
another  reply  came  from  a  quarter  with  which  our  Lodge 
had  no  connection.20  The  author  of  the  obnoxious  pam- 
phlet did  not  respond,  and  it  was  believed  that  his  con- 
science accused  him  of  having  basely  slandered  a  bener 
volent  institution,  and  that  he  thought  it  expedient  to 
atone  for  his  calumny  by  silence  ;  and  the  controversy — 
if  it  may  be  called  by  that  name — terminated  with  a 
pamphlet  bearing  the  triumphant  title  of  "Masonry  the 
Turnpike-Road  to  Happiness  in  this  Life,  and  Eternal 
Happiness  hereafter."21 

"  Amidst  all  this  trifling,  the  age  was  not  barren  in 
legitimate  and  well-authenticated  publications  on  pure 
Masonry.22  But  the  gem  of  the  period  was  the  Candid 

17  See  the  Golden  Remains,  vol.  i.,-p.  15. 

18  "Masonry  the  Way   to    Hell;    a   Sermon,  wherein  is  clearly 
proved,  both  from  Reason  and  Scripture,  that  all  who  profess   the 
Mysteries  are  in  a  State  of  Damnation."     London,  Robinson  and 
Roberts,  1768. 

19  "  Remarks  on  a  Sermon  lately  published,  entitled  '  Masonry  tho 
Way  to  Hell;'    being  a  Defence  of  that  Order  against  Jesuitical 
Sophistry  and  Calumny.     By  John  Thompson."    1768. 

~°  "  An  Answer  to  a  certain  Pamphlet,  lately  published  under  the 
.solemn  Title  of  k  A  Sermon,  or  Masonry  the  Way  to  Hell.'  By  John 
Jackson,  Philantropos."  1768.  2l  London,  Bladon,  1768. 

22  "  Love  to  God  and  Man  inseparable ;  a  Sermon  before  tho 
Masons."  1765.  "  Charge  to  the  Wolverhampton  Lodge."  1765. 
Masonic  Sermon,  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Bagnall."  1766.  "On  the 
Government  of  the  Lodge;  delivered  before  the  Brethren  of  St. 
George's  Lodge,  No.  315,  Tauntou.  By  John  Whitmash."  1765. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          81 

Disquisition  of  Wellins  Calcott,23  in  which  he  has  traced 
primitive  Masonry  from  its  origin  ;  explained  its  symbols 
and  hieroglyphics,  its  social  virtues  and  advantages ; 
suggested  the  propriety  of  building  halls  for  the  peculiar 
and  exclusive  practice  of  Masonry,  and  reprehended  its 
slanderers  with  great  but  judicious  severity  ;  for  the  un- 
principled charlatans  were  still  working  at  their,  masked 
battery,  catering  for  the  morbid  curiosity  of  the  profane 
world,  and  their  shafts  flew  in  clouds  about  our  heads.24 
In  1769,  our  R.  W.  M.  was  appointed  to  the  office  of 
Grand  Secretary,  by  the  Duke  of  Beaufort,  and  in  that 
capacity  I  accompanied  him  on  a  visit  of  inspection  into 
the  north  of  England ;  and  we  found  considerable  varia- 
tions in  the  several  systems  of  working  amongst  the 

2:5  "  A  Candid  Disquisition  of  the  Principles  and  Practices  of  the 
Most  Ancient  and  Honourable  Society  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  ; 
together ,  with  some  Strictures  on  the  Origin,  Nature,  and  Design  of 
that  Institution.  By  Wellins  Calcott."  London,  1769. 

>24  The  following  spurious  publications  were  supplied  about  this  time 
to  gratify  the  curiosity  of  the  uninitiated: — "  The  Secrets  of  Mason- 
ry revealed ;  by  a  disgusted  Brother.  Containing  an  ingenious  Ac- 
count of  their  Origin,  their  Practices  in  the  Lodges,  Signs,  and  Watch- 
words, Proceedings  at  the  Makings,  &c."  London,  Scott,  1759. 
"  Allegorical  Conversations  organized  by  Wisdom."  Hiram,  or  the 
Grand  Master  Key  to  the  Door  of  both  Ancient  and  Modern  Free- 
masonry; being  an  accurate  Description  of  every  Degree  of  the 
Brotherhood,  as  authorized  and  delivered  in  all  good  Lodges.  Con- 
taining more  than  any  Book  on  the  Subject  ever  before  published. 
By  a  Member  of  the  Royal  Arch."  London,  1764.  Second  Edition, 
London,  Griffin,  1766.  "  An  Institute  of  Red  Masonry."  1764. 
"Shibboleth;  or  every  man  a  Freemason."  1765.  "Solomon  in  all 
his  Glory,  or  thu  Master  Mason;  being  a  true  Guide  to  the  inmost 
Recesses  of  Freemasonry,  both  Ancient  and  Modern.  Containing  a 
minute  Account  of  the  Proceedings.  By  T.  W.  Translated  from 
the  French  Original,  published  at  Berlin,  and  burnt  by  Order  of  the 
King  of  Prussia,  at  the  Intercession  of  the  Freemasons."  London, 
Robinson  and  Roberts,  1766.  Second  Edition,  London,  1768.  *•  The 
Three  distinct  Knocks,  or  the  Door  of  the  Ancient  Freemasonry 
opened  to  all  Men,  neither  naked  or  clothed,  barefooted  nor  shod ; 
being  an  universal  Description  of  all  its  branches,  from  its  first  use 
to  this  present  time,  as  it  is  delivered  in  all  Lodges.  By  W.  0.  V. 
M."  The  sixth  Edition.  London,  Sergeant,  1767.  Seventh  Edition, 
London,  1768.  Eighth  Edition.  Clench,  181 1.  Ninth  Edition,  London, 
Hughes,  1825.  "The  Freemason  stripped  naked;  or  the  whole  Art 
and  Mystery  of  Freemasonry  made  Plain  and  Easy  to  all  Capacities, 
by  a  faithful  Account  of  every  Secret,  from  the  first  making  of  a 
Mason  till  he  is  completely  Master  of  every  Branch  of  his  Profession. 
By  Charles  Warren,  Esq.,  late  Grand  Master  of  a  regularly  consti- 
tuted Lodge  in  the  City  of  Cork."  London,  Isaac  Fell,  1769. 


82          THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

Brethren  of  different  localities.  At  the  Lodge  No.  209, 
h  olden  at  the  Plume  of  Feathers,  Bridge  street,  Chester, 
we  inspected  a  curious  floor-cloth,  which  had  been 
painted  only  a  short  time  previous,  and  contained  some 
reference  to  the  masonic  innovations  of  France  and 
Germany.  It  consisted  of  a  Mosaic  pavement,  accessible 
by  three  steps,  marked  AUDI,  VIDE,  TACE,  with  the  five- 
pointed  blazing  star  in  a  circle  occupying  the  centre, 
flanked  by  two  Corinthian  pillars,  on  the  summit  of 
which  were  placed  the  sun  and  moon.  The  plinth  of 
the  sinister  column  was  charged  with  a  diagram,  repre- 
senting, probably,  the  Mark  key-stone,  while  that  on 
the  dexter-side  of  the  pavement  was  occupied  by  a  lad- 
der in  clouds.  Each  of  these  pillars  was  attended  or 
guarded  by  a  naked  sword,  the  one  pointed,  and  the 
other  flaming,  to  represent  Justice  and  Mercy,  together 
with  a  Level  and  Plumb.  Over  the  pavement,  and  rest' 
ing  on  the  pillars,  was  an  arch  inscribed  SIT  Lux  ET  Lux 
FUIT,  with  a  double  key-stone  supporting  a  sphere,  and 
upon  it  the  head  of  the  Redeemer,  as  T.  G.  A.  O.  T.  U., 
surrounded  by  a  nimbus ;  beneath  which  was  an  altar 
supporting  the  Holy  Bible,  placed  on  a  cushion,  flanked 
by  masonic  emblems.  Amongst  the  clouds  above  the 
arch,  there  appears  a  radiated  triangle,  with  the  word 
mm.  At  the  base  of  the  floor-cloth  are  three  objects ; 
the  one  an  oblong  square  chest,  or  Lodge,  with  an  end- 
less serpent  on  its  lid,  and  the  word  ABPA5A2  in  front ; 
the  centre,  a  cube,  with  the -three  masonic  colours,  and 
word  fi&ix  (AGLA,)  one  of  the  cabalistic  names  of  the 
Deity;  and  the  other,  a  tumulus,  with  the  sprig  of 
Cassia.  Above  them,  the  following  inscription,  6EON 
2EBOY  ZENOT2  ZENIZE.  I  remember  this  floor-cloth 
distinctly,  for  it  underwent  a  very  particular  examina- 
tion ;25  and  Bro.  Hesletine  took  a  sketch  of  it,  and 
delivered  a  lecture  on  its  peculiarities  when  he  returned 
to  town. 

"From  Chester  we  proceeded  to  Barnard  Castle,  in 
the  county  of  Durham,  where  we  found  Masonry  shining 
with  unsullied  lustre,  under  the  active  superintendence 
of  Bro.  Hutchinson,  who  worked  the  details  after  a  per- 

25  This  floor-cloth  is  now  in  the  Cestrian  Lodge  at  Chester ;  of 
which  my  friend,  Bro.  Willoughby,  of  Birkenhead,  has  kindly 
favoured  me  with  a  sketch. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.  .        83 

feet  model.  He  delivered  his  own  Lectures,  Charges, 
and  Orations,  strictly  adhering  to  the  ancient  landmarks 
of  the  Order ;  and  his  example  was  followed  by  the 
Masters  of  other  Lodges,  who  visited  the  Barnard  Castle 
Lodge  for  the  advantage  of  his  instructions.  Many  of 
these  detached  pieces  appeared  in  print,26  and  were  so 
much  admired  for  the  pure  principles  of  Masonry  which 
they  enunciated,  that  the  Fraternity  at  length  requested 
Bro.  H.  to  make  a  selection  from  his  Lectures,  and  pub- 
lish them  in  a  permanent  form.  He  complied  with  the 
request,  and  produced  a  volume  of  such  surpassing  inter- 
est, that,  after  going  through  many  editions,27  it  still 
retains  its  value,  and  is  read  with  avidity  by  all  who  are 
desirous  of  information  on  the  sterling  and  unchangeable 
doctrines  of  the  Order."28 

3(5  See  my  edition  of  the  Spirit  of  Masonry,  which  includes  all  the 
works  of  Bro.  Hutchinson. 

27  4 1  rp}ie  gpirit  of  Masonry,  in  Moral  and  Elucidatory  Lectures,  by 
W.  Hutchinson."     London,  Wilkes  and  Goldsmith,  1775.     Second 
Edition,  Carlisle,  Jollie,  1795  ;  Third  Edition,  Carlisle,  1802;  Fourth 
Edition,  Edinburgh,  MacEvan,  1813;  Fifth  Edition,  Carlisle,  1814; 
Sixth  Edition,  London,  1815.     Other  editions  have  been  published, 
and  the  last  contains  all  Bro.  Hutchinson's  detached  pieces.     London, 
Spencer,  1843. 

28  In  an  Address,  prefixed  to  the  second  edition,  he  says,  with  his 
usual  benevolence  of  character,  "I  have  been  induced  to  give  this 
edition  to  the  press  for  the  purpose  of  relieving  the  family  of  a 
worthy  but  indigent  Brother,  by  the  whole  profits  of  the  subscription 
and  sale ;  and  doubt  not  that  the  motive  to  the  present  publication 
will  procure  it  the  attention  of  the  Brethren  of  this  excellent  Insti- 
tution     ....     It  is  hoped  that  these  Lectures  may  serve  to 
detect  the  wretched  artifices  used  by  wicked  men  to  impose  upon 
the  world ;  and  may  also  excite  in  the  Fraternity  the  due  exercise 
of  those  moral  works  which  our  profession  enjoins." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

IT    RAINS! DUNCKERLEY. 

1770,  1771. 


"  Do  good  to  theim  that  ben  nedy,  and  that  shall  pleyue  m<j  more 
and  be  better  to  the  than  yf  thou  fastyd  xl.  yere  on  brede  and  <rater. 
Do  good  to  thy  power  in  all  yt  thou  may,  and  put  pease  arJ  love 
amonge  thy  neyghbours,  and  it  shall  pleyse  me  more  and  be  better 
to  the  than  if  thow  were  every  day  rauyssht  to  heaven." — The 
Proujfy  table  Bokefor  Mannes  Soul. — WYNKIN  DE  WORDE. 

"  Cryst  then  of  hys  hye  grace, 
Zeve  zow  bothe  wytte  and  space, 
Wei  thys  boke  to  conne  and  rede, 
Heven  to  have  for  zowre  mede  ! 
Amen  !  amen  !  so  mot  hyt  be, 
Say  we  so  alle  per  chary  te." 

OLD  MASONIC  MS. 
"Thy  watchful  EYE,  a  length  of  time, 

The  wondrous  circle  did  attend ; 
The  glory  and  the  power  be  thine, 
Which  shall  from  age  to  age  descend." 
DUNCKERLEY. 


THE  Square  thus  moralized  in  continuance  of  its 
Revelations  :— 

"  The  mind  of  man  is  an  inscrutable  mystery,  past 
finding  out.  Talk  of  the  mysteries  of  Freemasonry, 
they  are  nothing  to  the  enigma  of  the  human  mind. 
There  are  so  many  springs  of  thought — so  many  motives 
of  action,  that  positive  results  can  never  be  divined  by 
any  series  of  preconceived  notions.  If  a  locomotive  is 
out  of  order,  the  engineer  will  speedily  set  it  to  rights : 
if  a  vessel  has  lost  its  helm,  the  shipwright  will  restore 
it  safe  and  sound ;  but  if  a  man's  ideas  become  disar- 
ranged, it  is  twenty  to  one  whether  they  ever  resume 
their  original  tone.  In  the  course  of  my  experience,  I 
have  .witnessed  many  well-regulated  Lodges ;  but  ..the 
end  has  been  attained  by  so  many  different  processes, 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.  %        85 

that  I  have  often  wondered  how  they  should  happen  to 
conduce  to  the  same  harmonious  conclusion. 

"  Bro.  Hesletirie  was  a  good  Master ;  and  so  was  his 
successor,  although  differing  toto  codo  from  each  other  in 
character  and  style  of  government.  The  former  being 
appointed  to  the  high  office  of  Grand  Secretary,  in  May, 
1769,  I  was  transferred,  at  the  ensuing  election  of 
officers,  to  a  young  but  very  zealous  Mason,  named 
Dagge,  who  had  served  as  a  warden  in  the  Caledonian 
Lodge,  holderi  at  'The  Ship,'  in  Leadenhall  street. 
Being  in  easy  circumstances,  he  devoted  the  greater 
portion  of  his  time  to  the  study  of  Masonry,  and  the 
duties  of  the  Lodge ;  and  as  industry  generally  produces 
excellence,  he  soon  became  a  proficient  in  the  art. 

"It  will  be  plainly  seen  that  Bro.  Dagge  had  a  great 
affection  for  the  Order ;  and  if  his  enthusiasm  did  not, 
like  that  of  the  Spanish  Don,  cause  him  to  mistake  wind- 
mills for  giants,  Benedictines  for  enchanters,  and  a  flock 
of  harmless  sheep  for  an  army  of  '  divers  and  innumer- 
able nations,'  bristling  with  lances,  and  advancing,  with 
banners  displayed  and  trumpets  sounding  to  the  charge, 
it  sometimes  led  him  into  ludicrous  situations.  He 
would,  occasionally,  when  he  had  an  hour  to  spare,  get 
the  key  of  the  Lodge-room  from  Mrs.  Kitching,  the 
woman  in  whose  custody  it  was  deposited,  and,  locking 
himself  in,  would  open  the  -Lodge,  lecture  the  empty 
benches  with  becoming  gravity,  close  the  Lodge,  lock 
the  door,  and  take  his  departure,  very  much  edified  with 
this  supererogatory  exercise. 

"  This  occurred  so  often  in  the  early  part  of  his  career 
as  Master  of  the  Lodge,  that  two  or  three  of  his  most  in- 
timate friends  concocted  a  scheme  for  detecting  him  in 
the  fact.  Having  arranged  their  plans,  with  the  assist- 
ance of  Mrs.  Kitching,  they  watched  his  motions,  and 
very  soon  had  the  satisfaction  of  surprising  him  in  the 
act  of  riding  his  hobby  at  railroad  speed.  When  he  next 
called  for  the  key, — after  pretending  to  search  for  it, 
first  in  one  place,  then  in  another, — the  woman  said, 
'Oh,  I  remember,  I  swept  out  the  Lodge,  and  dusted  the 
furniture  yesterday,  and  forgot  to  lock  the  door ;  I  must 
have  left  the  key  in  the  lock.  You  will  find  the  door 
open,  sir.'  The  door,  indeed,  was  open,  but  the  key  had 
been  removed  ;  and  consequently  he  was  unable  to  secure 


Sff  -      THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

i 

himself,  as  usual,  from  interruption.  He  cared  very  lit- 
tle for  this,  as  he  had  not  the  slightest  anticipation  of 
being  intruded  on.  He  placed  me  on  his  breast,  and 
mounting  his  rostrum  before  the  pedestal,  opened  the 
Lodge,  and  commenced  the  first  lecture,  addressing  his 
imaginary  Wardens  and  Brethren,  with  all  due  serious- 
ness arid  decorum,  with 

"  '  Bro.  Senior  Warden,  where  did  you  and  I  first 
meet?'  and  the  worthy  lecturer  went  swimmingly  on 
through  the  first  three  sections. 

"  While  he  was  thus  pleasantly  engaged,  Mrs.  Kitch- 
ing,  the  agent  of  mischief,  sent  a  message  to  the  conspi- 
rators, to  apprise  them  that  the  mouse  was  in  the  trap. 
By  the  time  they  were  assembled  below,  Bro.  Dagge 
had  got  into  the  marrow  of  his  subject,  and  was  enlight- 
ening the  benches  and  tables  on  the  theological  virtues, 
with  his  mind  wholly  wrapped  up  in  the  fascinating  em- 
ployment, when,  at  a  pause  in  the  discourse,  he  fancied 
he  heard  something  like  a  suppressed  titter.  No — it 
could  not  be  :  his  ears  had  deceived  him.  He  looked  at 
the  entrance-door  from  the  Tyler's  room, — it  was  closely 
tyled  :  he  listened, — all  was  silent,  and  he  resumed  the 
thread  of  his  argument,  on  the  chequered  scenes  of  life 
figured  in  the  Mosaic  pavement  of  the  Lodge.  '  To-day 
success  may  crown  oar  labours,  while  to-morrow  we  may 
be  suddenly  surprised,' — again  the  same  noise  was  re- 
peated. *  What  can  it  be?'  said  Bro.  Dagge  to  himself; 
'  Oh,  some  people  in  the  garden  below.  I  wish'  Mrs. 
Kitching  would  be  more  on  her  guard.'  Satisfied  with 
this  conclusion,  he  started  off  again  in  full  career.  'Then 
let  us  ever  act  according  to  the  dictates  of  reason  and 
religion,  and  cultivate  harmony,  maintain  charity,  and  live 
in  unity  and  brotherly  love  !' 

"At  this  point  the  door  opened,  and  in  walked  three 
Brethren,  with  Mrs.  Kitching  at  their  heels,  freely  in- 
dulging in  the  laugh  they  could  no  longer  restrain.  '  Capi- 
tal!' they  shouted.  'Ah !  Dagge,  my  boy!'  exclaimed 
Bro.  Hesletine,  'I  am  glad  to  see  you  in  harness!  Take 
care  the  hobby  does  not  throw  you !' 

"  '  R.  W.  Sir,'  said  Bro.  Rowland  Berkeley,  who  was 
one  of  the  party?  with  an  appearance  of  great  respect, 
'  we  hope  the  Brethren  are  edified.' 

"  « Tlaey  are  very  silent  and  attentive,'  said  Bro.  Bot- 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          87 

tomley,  '  as  in  duty  bound ;  and  are,  no  doubt,  consider- 
ably benefitted  by  such  a  learned  dissertation.' 

"  'Aye,'  rejoined  Bro.  Hesletine ;  *  sure  never  R.  W.  M. 
was  blessed  with  such  an  obedient  Lodge  of  Brethren. 
There  is  not  a  scabbed  sheep  amongst  them.  Hope 
you  will  favour  us  with  a  touch  of  your  quality,  R.  W. 
Sir.' 

"  *  What  have  you  done  with  the  key  ?'  Mrs.  Kitching 
slily  asked,  with  a  mischievous  leer  at  her  companions. 
*  I  hope  you  have  not  taken  it  out  of  the  lock,  for  I  don't 
see  it  there.' 

"  This  brought  on  an  uproarious  peal  of  laughter  from 
the  conspirators,  as  Bro.  Dagge  descended  from  his  eleva- 
tion to  meet  his  brother  officers. 

"  He  met  the  joke,"  said  the  Square,  "  with  his  usual 
good  nature,  for  he  was  too  enthusiastic  to  care  anything 
for  their  jeers.  Finis  coronal  opus  was  his  motto,  and  he 
worked  it  out  famously.  Freemasonry  was  his  hobby. 
He  rode  it  hard,  and  it  mattered  little  who  saw  him 
mounted.  And  this  is  the  feeling  which  leads  to  success 
and  eminence,  as  it  actually  did  in  his  case,  for  he  rose  to 
the  office  of  &  G.  W.  in  1778. 

"At  the  expiration  of  Bro.  Dagge's  year,  during  which 
the  circumstances  of  the  Lodge  were  greatly  improved, 
I  had  the  good  fortune  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  most 
eminent  Mason  of  the  age,"  my  garrulous  companion 
continued, — "Bro.  Thomas  Dunckerley,  an  expert  Master, 
and  a  good  tactician.  He  was  supposed  to  be  the  natural 
son  of  King  George  II.,  and  his  manners  did  not  belie  his 
breeding.1  He  was  a  perfect  gentleman  and  a  ripe  scholar, 

1  The  anecdote  is  too  interesting  to  be  passed  over  in  silence.  It  is 
thus  related  by  his  biographer :  "  In  the  year  1760,  on  his  return  from 
the  siege  of  Quebec,  an  event  happened  which  could  not  but  fill  him 
with  astonishment;  as  it  placed  him  in  a  new  and  most  extraordinary 
point  of  view.  A  lady,  receiving  the  sacrament  on  her  death  bed, 
made  a  declaration  in  all  the  awful  solemnity  of  the  occasion,  by 
which  it  appeared  that  Bro.  Dunckerley  owed  his  birth  to  the  first 
Personage  in  the  kingdom  ;  and  Nature  was  determined  that  it  never 
should  be  questioned." — (F.  M.  Mag.,  1793,  p.  378.)  And  those  who 
have  seen  his  portrait,  which  now  occupies  a  prominent  situation  in 
the  Preparing  Iloom  of  the  Royal  Cumberland  Lodge,  at  Bath,  have 
been  struck  with  the  resemblance  which  it  bears  to  the  Royal  Family 
now  on  the  throne  of  England.  Bro.  Dunckerley,  on  this  discovery, 
adopted  the  Royal  Arms,  with  the  bend  sinister  for  distinction,  and 
assumed,  in  his  confidential  correspondence,  the  name  of  Fitz-Greorge, 


83          THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

combining  a  knowledge  of  science  and  philosophy  with 
grace  and  dignity  of  deportment,  and  the  uniform  prac- 
tice of  every  moral  and  religious  duty.  At  the  period 
now  tinder  consideration,  he  was  a  student  at  one  of  the 
inns  of  court,  and  was  in  due  time  called  to  the  bar.2 

"Though  conversant  in  scientific  and  philosophical 
researches,  he  was  of  too  virtuous  and  vigorous  a  frame 
of  mind,  and  too  well  grounded  in  his  religious  and  moral 
principles,  ever  to  suffer  .philosophy  to  lead  to  infidelity; 
but  all  the  Christian  truths  received  his  most  hearty  con- 
currence, and  all  the  Christian  virtues  his  constant  prac- 
tice. 

"  In  the  Lodge  he  intermingled  the  fortitcr  in  re  so 
judiciously  with  the  suaviter  in  modo,  that,  while  the 
Society  over  which  he  presided  was  in  the  highest  state 
of  discipline,  there  was  an  ease  and  comfort  amongst  the 
Brethren  which  elevated  the  character  of  the  Lodge,  and 
procured  for  us  the  honour  of  many  distinguished  visit- 
ors, who  all  admired  the  quiet  and  easy  deportment  of 
Bro.  Dunckerley  in  the  chair,  and  the  orderly  and  respect- 
ful conduct  of  the  Brethren. 

"In  conducting  the  business  of  the  Lodge,  Bro.  Dunck- 
erley did  not  content  himself  with  the  usual  common- 
place demonstrations  contained  in  the  Lodge  lectures, 
but,  like  a  skilful  navigator,  boldly  launched  forth  into 
unknown  seas',  in  the  hope  of  discovering  regions  hitherto 
unexplored,  where  he  might  work  a  virgin  soil  in  search 
of  unfolded  riches,  or  detect  the  germ  of  new  and  inter- 
esting sources  of  knowledge.  And  he  was  eminently 
successful ;  for  he  discovered  and  brought  to  light  a  hid- 
den vein  of  science,  which  had  escaped  the  penetration 
of  all  the  eminent  men  who  had  preceded  him  in  the 
same  track.  His  indefatigable  exertions  and  self-devotion 

and  the  motto,  FATO  NON  MERITO.  I  have  in  my  possession,  by  the 
kindness  of  Bro.  Percy  Wells,  the  present  W.  M.  of  the  Royal  Cum- 
berland Lodge  (1854),  a  genuine  impression  of  his  seal. 

2  At  the  demise  of  George  II.,  which  happened  almost  at  the  mo- 
ment of  the  above  disclosure,  his  friends,  who  were  of  high  rank, 
laid  his  case  before  the  new  king,  who  generously  allowed  him  £100 
a  year,  which  was  subsequently  augmented  to  £800,  out  of  the  privy 
purse ;  and  this,  with  the  profits  of  his  profession,  put  him  into  easy 
circumstances ;  and  it  is  due  to  his  memory  to  add,  that  his  charities 
were  boundless,  and  the  destitute  Brother  never  applied  to  him  in 
vain. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          89 

to  the  holy  cause  soon  advanced  him  to  the  greatest  dig- 
nities Freemasonry  had  it  in  her  power  to  bestow. 

"  By  the  indefatigable  assiduity  of  this  truly  masonic 
luminary,  Masonry  made  considerable  progress,  not  only 
within  his  own  province  of  Hampshire,  but  in  many 
other  counties  in  England..  In  grateful  testimony  of  his 
zealous  exertions  for  many  years  to  promote  the  honour 
and  interest  of  the  Society,  the  Grand  Lodge  conferred 
upon  him  the  rank  of  Past  Senior  Grand  Warden,  and 
that  in  all  processions  he  was  entitled  to  take  place  next 
the  present  Senior  Grand  Warden  for  the 'time  being. 

"  He  was  also  Provincial  Grand  Master  for  the  city 
and  county  of  Bristol,  the  counties  of  Dorset,  Essex, 
Gloucester,  Hereford,  Somerset,  Southampton,  and  the 
Isle  of  Wight;  Grand  Superintendent  and  Past  Grand 
Master  of  Royal  Arch  Masons  for  the  city  and  county  of 
Bristol,  the  counties  of  Dorset,  Essex,  Gloucester,  Here- 
ford, Kent,  Nottingham,  Somerset,  Southampton,  Surrey, 
Suffolk,  Sussex,  and  Warwick,  under  the  patronage  of 
His  Eoyal  Highness  the  Duke  of  Clarence;  and  Most 
Eminent  and  Supreme  Grand  Master  of  Knights  of  Rosa 
Crucis,  Templars,  K.  H.,  &c.,  of  England,3  under  His 
Royal  Highness  Prince  Edward,  Patron  of  the  Order.4 

"Bro.  Dunckerley  was  well  known  as  a  Mason,"  the 
Square  continued,  "and  had  acquired  a  competent  gene- 
ral knowledge  of  the  Craft  before  the  period  in  which  I 
am  introducing  him  to  your  notice,  for  he  delivered  a 
Charge  at  Plymouth  in  1757  on  the  Light  and  Truth  of 
Masonry,5  which  in  a  printed  form  spread  through  the 

•"•  Bro.  Dunckerley  introduced  a  revised  Lecture  into  the  military 
degrees,  which  was  received  into  the  several  Encampments  under 
the  designation  of  "  Dunckerlcy's  Sections."  A  copy  of  this  docu- 
ment has  been  placed  in  my  hands  by  Bro.  Wells,  and  I  find  it  con- 
cise, but  perfectly  comprehensive  and  intelligible.  He  has  also 
favoured  me  with  an  impression  of  the  Official  Seal  which  he  used  to 
verify  his  documents  as  G.  M.  of  Templars,  and  Rosa  Crucis. 

4  "  These  masonic  titles  show  the  high  sense  which  the  G.  Lodge 
entertained  of  his  abilities  and  exertions ;  the  great  trust  reposed  in 
him  by  the  Heir  Apparent  and  his  illustrious  Brothers  ;  and  the  very 
great  esteem  and  regard  with  which  he  is  honoured  (we  had  almost 
said  adored)  by  hundreds  of  Brethren  in  the  above-mentioned  coun- 
ties."—(Freemasons'  Mag.,  1793,  p.  377.) 

5  "The  Light  and  Truth  of  Masonry  explained ;  being  the  sub- 
stance of  a  Charge  delivered  at  Plymouth  in  April,  1757.  By  Thomas 
Dunckerley."     Davey  and  Law,  1757.     See  Golden  Hem.,  vol.  i., 
p.  137. 


90          THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

length  and  breadth  of  the  land,  and  will  be  known  and 
admired  as  long  as  Masonry  endures.  I  had  the  gratifica- 
tion of  being  present  at  its  delivery,  and  can  assure  you 
that  the  exquisite  grace  of  the  orator,  and  the  rich 
modulation  of  his  musical  voice,  entranced  the  hearers. 
The  feelings  of  the  Brethren  were  wound  up  to  such  a 
pitch  of  intensity  that  a  pin  might  have  been  heard  to 
drop  in  the  midst  of  that  numerous  assembly.  There 
was  silence  in  heaven  for  the  space  of  half  an  hour. 

"  After  this  time  he  saw  a  great  deal  of  service  as  an 
officer  in  the  navy,  and  was  at  the  taking  of  Quebec. 
The  roar  of  cannon,  and  the  outcry  of  bloody  conflict, 
however,  proved  insufficient  to  stifle  the  still,  small  voice 
of  benevolence  and  peace  which  reigned  triumphant  in 
his  bosom ;  and  he  had  only  returned  to  this  country  a 
short  time  before  he  was  induced  to  accept  the  office 
of  R.  W.  M.  of  our  Lodge.  He  delivered  two  other 
addresses, — one  at  Marlborough,6  and  the  other  at  Col- 
chester,7 which  increased  his  popularity  as  a  Mason,  and 
were  printed  and  extensively  circulated  amongst  the 
Craft. 

"  Bro.  Dunckerley  was  the  oracle  of  the  Grand  Lodge, 
and  the  accredited  interpreter  of  its  Constitutions.  His 
decision,  like  the  law  of  the  Medes  and  Persians,  was 
final  on  all  points  both  of  doctrine  and  discipline,  and 
against  it  there  was  no  appeal.  His  views  of  Masonry 
were  liberal,  and  he  despised  sectarian  controversy.  He 
frequently  visited  the  Ancient  Masons'  Lodges  for  the 
purpose  of  ascertaining  what  was  the  actual  difference 
between  the  two  systems,  as  Lawrence  Dermott,  in  the 
Ahiman  Rezon,  had  confidently  boasted  of  the  superiori- 
ty of  their  mode  of  work  over  that  which  was  recom- 
mended by  the  legitimate  Grand  Lodge;  and  he  carefully 
culled  its  flowers,  and  transplanted  them  into  Constitu- 
tional Masonry;  for  he  actually  found  amongst  the  an- 
cients, to  his  undisguised  astonishment,  several  material 
innovations  in  their  system,  including  some  alteration  of 

6  September  11,  1769. 

7  "A  Sermon  preached  at  St.  Peter's  Church  in  Colchester,  June 
24,  1777.  By  W.  Martin*Deake ;  before  the  Provincial  Grand  Master 
and  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Essex.     To  which  is  added,  a  Charge,  bv 
Bro.  Dunckerley,  and  an  Address,  by  Bro.  Henry  Chalmers."    Col- 
chester, 1778. 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A   SQUARE.  91 

the  Old  Landmarks,  and  a  new  application  of  the  Mas- 
ter's Word.  As  John  Wesley  is  said  to  have  observed, 
when  he  adopted  some  popular  ditty  to  his  collection  of 
hymns, — '  It  is  a  pity  the  devil  should  monopolize  all  the 
best  tun£s,'  so  our  Bro.  Dunckerley,  how  loudly  soever  the 
self-styled  Ancients  might  blow  their  schismatical  trum- 
pet, and  proclaim  the  exclusive  excellence  of  their  schism, 
resolved  that  they  should  not  appropriate  to  themselves 
a  single  pearl  of  any  real  value  towards  the  elucidation 
of  the  Craft.  And  hence,  when  he  was  authorized  by 
the  Grand  Lodge  to  construct  a  new  code  of  Lectures  by 
a  careful  revision  of  the  existing  ritual,  and  a  collation  of 
all  the  ancient  forms,  he  executed  the  task  so  well,  that 
the  Grand  Lodge  adopted  it  without  alteration,  and  en- 
joined its  practice  on  all  the  Lodges  under  its  jurisdiction. 

"These  were  the  palmy  days  of  Masonry,"  said  the 
Square,  exultingly,  "and  it  is  doubtful  whether  it  has 
ever  been  in  greater  repute  than  under  the  direction  of 
this  learned  and  philosophical  Brother.  In  one  instance, 
he  certainly  laid  himself  open  to  the  charge  of  building 
on  another  man's  foundation,  for  he  reconstructed  Der- 
mott's  Koyal  Arch,  and  introduced  it  into  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  England.  It  was  a  bold  attempt;  but  from 
the  patronage  of  the  Duke  of  Clarence,  united  with  his 
own  influence  in  Grand  Lodge,  it  was  eminently  success- 
ful. I  cannot  deny  but  it  was  an  innovation,  for  it 
absolutely  disarranged  the  Landmarks,  by  transferring 
the  Master's  Word  to  a  subsidiary  Degree.  And  so  it 
was  generally  considered  at  its  first  introduction.  It 
was  like  grafting  a  crab  upon  an  apple-stock.  But  time 
has  effected  wondrous  changes.  The  crab  has  ripened 
into  a  most  delicious  fruit,  and  the  improved  Eoyal  Arch 
Degree  is  now  considered  the  perfection  of  Masonry.8 

"Bro.  Dunckerley  found  among  the  ancient  Masons  a 
French  work,  which,  taken  as  a  corollary  to  their  profes- 
sions of  superior  antiquity,  constituted  a  curious  anomaly 
that  is  deserving  of  a  passing  notice,  its  professed  object 
being  to  rebut  the  claims  of  Masonry  to  a  high  antiquity, 

8  I  have  in  my  possession  a  copy  of  the  R.  A.  Lecture  which  was 
introduced  by  Bro.  Dunckerley  into  Grand  Lodge  on  the  above 
occasion.  It  is  a  curious  and  interesting  document,  as  constituting  a 
fair  evidence  of  the  nature  of  K.  A.  Masonry  at  its  commencement 
in  1740. 


92  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

and  to  limit  its  existence  to  the  last  two  hundred  years. 
The  author  confidently  asserts  that  it  was  a  purely 
English  invention,  never  contradicted  by  the  Fraternity 
when  speaking  with  each  other  in  confidence,  and  tacitly 
acknowledged  by  all  foreign  Lodges,  which  are.  nothing 
more  than  branches  from  this  original  stock.  And  he 
asks  triumphantly,  'But  what  happy  mortal  amongst  the 
English  has  been  able  so  to  interest  the  heavens  "in  his 
favour,  as  to  gain  the  glorious  title  of  founder  of  this 
Order?  There  are  few  who  will  guess  at  him  from  the 
hints  I  have  given,  yet  still  fewer  who,  like  him,  could 
penetrate  into  the  very  heart  of  man,  could  trace  all  its 
windings,  and  draw  from  him  all  his  thoughts ;  fewer 
who,  like  him,  could  at  one  glance  discern  the  advantages 
of  such  an  Institution,  the  means  of  establishing  it  with 
success,  and  of  making  it  useful  to  his  political  and  reli- 
gious designs.  There  are  few  whom  (as  the  poet  says) 
Jupiter  eyes  so  partially,  as  suddenly  to  dispel  the  night 
which  environs  them,  and  bringing  them  into  light,  to 
show  them  truths  concealed  from  others  under  shadows 
and  hieroglyphics.  In  a  word,  it  wanted  a  CROMWELL  to 
insure  success.  A  genius  so  vast  as  his  could  alone 
embrace  a  project  of  such  importance,  and  contrive  the 
means  of  supporting  it,  until  its  final  and  surprising  exe- 
cution astonished  the  world  by  a  most  terrible  metamor- 
phosis. If  we  refer  to  the  masonic  deliberations  of  those 
days,  we  may  discover  in  them  storms  continually  in- 
creasing, and  powers  sleeping  on  the  very  verge  of  a 

precipice The  Order  frequently  changed  its  name 

in  the  first  year  of  its  formation.  That  which  it  now 
bears  was  the  first;  its  partisans  afterwards  called  them- 
selves Levellers,  then  Independents,  afterwards  Fifth 
Monarchy  Men.  At  last,  they  resumed  their  original 
name  of  Freemasons,  which  they  keep  to  this  day.  They 
had  a  standard  upon  which  was  a  lion  couchant,  to  desig- 
nate the  lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  with  this  motto, — 

WHO  SHALL  DARE  TO  ROUSE  HIM  UP?' 

"What  «lo  you  think  of  this,  sir?  But  more  extraor- 
dinary things  are  yet  to  come.  The  author  gives  the 
following  unique  application  of  the  symbolical  Temple 
of  Solomon :  '  The  Society  adopted  the  Temple  of  Solo- 
mon for  its  symbol,  because  it  was  the  most  stable  and 
the  most  magnificent  structure  that  ever  existed,  whether 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          93 

we  consider  its  foundation  or  superstructure  ;  so  that  of 
all  the  societies  men  have  invented,  no  one  was  ever 
more  firmly  united,  or  better  planned,  than  the  Masons. 
Its  chief  aim  is  to  conciliate  and  tame  the  passions,  to 
establish  among  men  the  spirit  of  peace  and  concord, 
which  may  render  them  impenetrable  to  the  feelings  of 
hatred  and  dissension,  those  bitter  enemies  which  poison 
the  best  of  our  days ; — to  inculcate  sentiments  of  honour 
and  probity,  which  may  render  men  more  attentive  to 
their  respective  duties ; — to  teach  a  dutiful  obedience  to 
the  orders  of  parents  and  princes; — to  support  towards 
one  another  the  tender  relation  of  Brothers,  by  which 
name  they  address  each  other; — and,  in  a  word,  to  form 
an  admirable  sect,  whose  only  aim  is  liberty,  love,  and 
equality.  If  this  interpretation  should  not  be  to  the 
taste  of  the  candidate,  or  if  he  feels  any  repugnance  to 
adopt  it,  they  well  know  how  to  reply  in  a  manner  still 
more  artificial.  The  Temple  of  Solomon,  then,  signifies 
nothing  more  than  a  Temple  sacred  to  the  Virtues, 
which  are  practised  by  the  Society  in  the  greatest  per- 
fection ;  ~a  dungeon  destined  for  the  vices,  where  these 
monsters  groan  under  the  most  rigorous  confinement.  .  . 
.  .  .  The  edifices  which  Freemasons  build  are  nothing 
more  than  virtues  or  vices  to  be  erected  or  destroyed; 
and  in  this  case  heaven  only  occupies  their  minds,  which 
soar  above  a  corrupted  world.  The  Temple  of  Solomon 
denotes  reason  and  intelligence,  &c.'9 

9  It  is  believed  that  this  authority,  and  a  few  other  writers  of  the 
same  school,  induced  the  English  Opium  Eater  to  assert,  in  the 
London  Magazine  for  1824,  as  a  fact  established  upon  historical  re- 
search, "that  before  the  beginning  of  the  17th  century,  no  traces  are 
to  be  met  with  of  the  Masonic  Order."  And  he  adds,  "that  although 
the  Arabs  have  been  the  instructors  of  the  moderns  in  mathematics, 
astronomy,  astrology,  medicine,  materia  medica,  and  chemistry — and 
although  it  is  very  probable  that  from  the  Arabs  might  have  original- 
ly proceeded  the  conceit  of  physical  mysteries  without  the  aid  oi 
magic,  such  as  the  art  of  gold-making,  the  invention  of  a  panacea, 
the  philosopher's  stone,  and  other  chimeras  of  alchymy  which  after- 
wards haunted  the  heads  of  the  Rosicrucians  and  the  elder  Freema- 
sons ;  but  of  caballsin  and  theosophy,  which  occupied  both  sects  in 
that  early  period,  the  Arabs  as  Mahometans  could  know  nothing.  I 
am  willing  to  concede,"  he  concludes,  "that  alchymists,  cabalists, 
and  dealers  in  the  black  art,  there  were  unquestionably  before  the 
17th  century,  but  not  llosicrucians  and  Freemasons,  connected  into 
a  secret  Society  and  distinguished  by  peculiar  characteristics." 


94         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

"  We  had  onoe  a  rich  scene  in  our  Lodge,  during  Bro. 
Dunckerley's  Mastership,  which  carries  with  it  a  useful 
lesson,  and  ought  not  to  be  disregarded,"  proceeded  my 
gossipping  companion,  who,  like  the  barber  in  the  Ara- 
bian Nights,  would  not  suffer  anybody  to  talk  but  himself 
"  A  stranger  presented  himself  as  a  visitor,  was  examined, 
and  admitted.  He  proved  to  be  of  a  respectable  stand- 
ing in  society,  although  on  the  present  occasion  he  lent 
himself  to  the  perpetration  of  a  very  disreputable  affair; 
and  the  R.  W.  M.,  with  all  his  tact  and  discrimination, 
was  very  nearly  outwitted.  An  ancient  law  of  Masonry 
provided  that  no  visitor,  however  skilled  in  the  art,  shall 
be  admitted  into  a  Lodge  unless  he  is  personally  known 
to,  or  well  vouched  and  recommended  by,  some  of  the 
Brethren  then  present.  Many  occasions  arose  in  which 
it  had  been  deemed  expedient  to  remit  the  strict  observ- 
ance of  the  rule,  and  such  had  been  the  case  in  the 
present  instance.  The  intruder,  however,  had  not  occu- 
pied his  precarious  position  more  than  five  minutes,  before 
a  venerable  Brother  called  aloud, — '!T  RAINS  !' 

"  Brother  Dunckerley's  presence  of  mind  did  not 
forsake  him  in  this  emergency,  and  he  gravely  demanded 
of  the  visitor, — *  Where  were  you  made  a  Mason  ?' 

"  The  answer  was  at  hand.  '  In  a  Lodge  at  the  King's 
Head,  Gravesend.' 

"  This  reply  betrayed  him ;  the  daw  was  stripped  of 
his  borrowed  plumes.  The  Brethren  rose  simultaneously 
from  their  seats  in  some  degree  of  unnecessary  alarm, 
like  a  flock  of  sheep  in  the  presence  of  a  strange  dog.10 

"  Indeed,  if  the  Wandering  Jew  had  appeared  among 
them  in  propitipersonil,  they  would  scarcely  have  exhibited 
a  more  urgent  demand  for  his  summary  expulsion  than 
was  implied  in  the  loud  and  universal  murmur  of  disap- 
probation which  was  heard  from  every  part  of  the  Lodge. 
The  intruder  was  perplexed;  he  saw  his  error,  but  knew 
not  the  remedy :  and  when  the  R.  W.  M.  quietly  observed : 
'  Now,  sir,  will  you  be  kind  enough  to  favour  us  with 
your  version  of  the  story,'  he  replied,  in  the  language  of 
Canning's  Knife  Grinder: — 

10  The  Square  is  inclined  to  be  facetious  here.  A  strange  dog 
(xvcov),  filling  the  flock  with  apprehension,  is  brought  forward  as  an 
apt  comparison  to  the  appearance  of  a  strange  eaves-dropper  (cowan) 
amongst  the  Brethren  of  a  Tyled  Lodge. — P.  D. 


REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  95 

"'Story! — Lord  bless  you! — I  have  none  to  tell!  I 
was  anxious  to  see  a  Lodge  of  Brethren  at  work;  and 
one  of  your  seceding  Members  furnished  me  with  answers 
to  a  few  questions  which  he  said  would  be  proposed  in 
the  Tyler's  room,  and  for  a  frolic  I  was  determined  to 
test  their  truth,  as,  at  the  very  worst,  I  could  only  be 
rejected,  which  I  did  not  conceive  would  be  either  a 
disappointment  or  a  disgrace;  for,  to  say  the  truth,  I 
scarcely  expected  to  gain  admittance  into  the  Lodge.' 

"  What  was  to  be  done  ?  The  dilemma  was  pressing, 
and  various  opinions  were  proposed  and  discussed,  while 
the  delinquent  was  securely  locked  up  in  the  preparing- 
room,  and  left  in  darkness  to  his  own  agreeable  reflec- 
tions. The  confusion  in  King  Agramante's  camp,  so  well 
described  by  Ariosto,  where  one  said  one  thing  and 
another  the  reverse,  may  convey  some  idea  of  the  con- 
sternation which  ensued.  All  spoke  together,  and  the 
reins  of  authority  seemed  to  have  been  unnaturally 
snapped  asunder ;  for  the  R.  W.  M.  had  retired  with  his 
Wardens  behind  the  pedestal,  leaving  the  Brethren  in  the 
body  of  the  room  to  denounce  or  threaten  at  their 
pleasure ;  and  their  objurgations  were  rather  amusing 
than  otherwise.  One  or  two  young  members,  in  the 
exuberance  of  their  zeal,  thoughtless  and  ill-judging, 
like  sailors  at  the  prospect  of  a  wreck  breaking  open  the 
spirit-room,  jumped  upon  the  benches,  like  Victor  Hugo's 
scholars  in  Notre  Dame,11  vociferating, — '  Out  with  him ! 
Down  with  the  intruder !  Turn  him  out !' 

"  Others  were  more  moderate.  One  Brother  observed, 
in  a  deprecatory  tone  of  voice :  '  He  ought  not  to  have 
been  admitted.'  A  fat  Brother,  with  a  red  face  peering 
from  under  a  periwig  and  queue,  who  had  not  taken  the 
trouble,  amidst  all  this  excitement,  to  move  from  his  seat, 
quietly  asked,  '  Who  examined  him  ?'  And  others,  acting 
under  the  impulse  so  universally  displayed  by  the  young 
men  on  the  bench,  were  clamorous  that  the  watch  should 
be  called  in,  and  the  intruder  transferred  to  the  round- 
house. 

"  Meanwhile,  Bro.  Dunckerley  had  matured  his  plan, 
and  having  ascended  into  the  chair,  and  given  the  signal 
which  appeased  the  tumult,  and  brought  every  Brothei 
to  his  seat  in  a  moment,  he  said  : — 

5*       ll  The  Square  anachronizes. — P.  D. 


96         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

"  'Brethren, — I  need  not  tell  you  that  we  are  placed 
at  this  moment  in  a  situation  where  a  false  step  may 
involve  not  only  this  Lodge  but  the  entire  Craft  in 
unknown  difficulties.  It  was  the  maxim  of  Socrates, — 
it  is  well  to  punish  an  enemy,  but  it  is  better  to  make 
him  your  friend.  Now  we  must  not  content  ourselves 
with  asking  who  examined  him  ?  or  why  he  was  admit- 
ted ?  for  he  is  actually  amongst  us ;  and  it  is  too  late  to 
prevent  the  intrusion.  And  if  we  were  to  adopt  that 
worthy  Brother's  advice  who  recommended  him  to  be 
turned  out,  the  matter  would  not  be  greatly  mended ; — 
the  principal  difficulty  would  still  remain.  I  conceive, 
therefore,  that  the  wisest  course  we  can  pursue  under 
these  untoward  circumstances  will  be,  to  use  our  best 
endeavors  towards  converting  this  temporary  evil  into  a 
permanent  benefit,  as  the  bee  extracts  honey  from  the 
most  poisonous  flowers,  by  transforming  the  unwelcome 
cowan  into  a  worthy  Mason.  For  this  purpose  I  propose 
that — if  his  station  in  life  be  not  objectionable — the  pro- 
vision of  our  bye-laws  respecting  the  admission  of  candi- 
dates be  suspended  in  this  single  instance,  and  that  he  be 
initiated  on  the  spot.' 

"  The  proposition  was  regularly  seconded  by  the  S.  W., 
and  was  unanimously  agreed  to;  and  the  intruder  was 
again  introduced  by  the  Senior  E.  A.  P.,  for  we  had  in 
our  Lodges  at  that  time  neither  Deacons  nor  Inner 
Guard.  The  R.  W.  M.  first  examined  him  as  to  his  resi- 
dence, trade,  and  respectability  of  character;  and  these 
inquiries  being  satisfactorily  disposed  of,  the  question  was 
proposed,  whether  he  would  adopt  the  alternative  of 
being  made  a  Mason,  to  avoid  the  disgrace  of  being  posted 
as  an  impostor. 

"He  said  nothing  could  be  more  acceptable  to  his 
vvishes.  In  fact,  it  was  the  very  proposal  he  intended 
to  make  himself,  as  an  atonement  for  his  error,  and  a 
means  of  wiping  away  his  disgrace.  He  accordingly  re- 
ceived the  first  degree,  and  not  only  proved  an  excellent 
and  zealous  Mason,  but  in  due  course  rose  to  the  chair  of 
the  Lodge. 

"  The  origin  of  the  above  significant  watchword,"  con- 
tinued the  Square,  prosingly,  as  if  he  was  taking  credit 
to  himself  for  communicating  some  very  important  secret 
which  was  known  to  none  but  himself, — "  Don't  speak  1" 
—he  ejaculated,  in  a  sharp  and  eager  tone  of  voice,  as  I 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.          97 

exhibited  indications  of  a  reply, — "  Don't  speak,  and  you 
shall  hear!  In  our  time,  a  cowan,  or  over-curious  unini- 
tiated person,  who  was  detected  in  the  fact  of  listening, 
or  attempting  to  procure,  by  any  undue  means,  a  know- 
ledge of  the  peculiar  secrets  of  Masonry,  was  termed  an 
eavesdropper,  from  the  nature  of  the  infliction  to  which 
he  was  subjected.  He  was  placed  under  the  eaves  of  a 
house  in  rainy  weather,  and  retained  there  till  the  drop- 
pings of  the  water  ran  in  at  the  collar  of  his  coat,  and 
out  at  his  shoes,  and,  therefore,  the  phrase,  'it  rains,' 
indicates  that  a  cowan  is  present,  and  the  proceedings 
must  be  suspended. 

"  Bro.  Dunckerley  always  endeavoured  to  keep  the 
Lodge  in  good  humour,  and  it  was  seldom,  indeed,  that 
he  was  unsuccessful.  He  adopted  a  very  judicious 
method  of  lecturing,  which  never  failed  to  interest  the 
most  careless  Brother.  His  lectures  were  often  delivered 
extemporaneously,  and  interspersed  with  amusing  anec- 
dotes. He  knew  the  value  of  that  Horatian  maxim, 
Misce  stultitiam  consiliis  brevem,  and  used  it  with  a  most 
beneficial  effect.  'He  was  an  acquaintance  of  the  cele- 
brated lexicographer  Dr.  Johnson ;  and  I  remember,  on 
some  particular  occasion,  when  the  Lodge  was  remark- 
ably 'full,  he  entertained  the  Brethren,  at  the  close  of  a 
copious  illustration  of  the  Theological  and  Cardinal  Vir- 
tues, with  the  following  characteristic  sketch.  A  person 
in  company  with  Ursa  Major,  as  the  learned  doctor  was 
sometimes  denominated,  said  he  had  been  so  unfortunate 
as  to  displease  Dr.  Johnson,  and,  wishing  to  reinstate 
himself  in  his  good  opinion,  thought  he  could  not  do  it 
more  effectually  than  by  decrying  such  light  amusements 
as  those  of  tumbling  and  rope-dancing.  In  particular, 
he  asserted  that  a  rope-dancer  was,  in  his  opinion,  the 
most  despicable  of  human  beings.  Johnson  (awfully 
rolling  himself  as  he  prepared  to  speak,  and  bursting  out 
into  a  thundering  tone)  said,  'Sir,  you  might  as  well  say 
that  St.  Paul  was  the  most  despicable  of  human  beings. 
Let  us  beware  how  we  petulantly  and  ignorantly  traduce 
a  character  which  puts  all  other  characters  to  shame. 
Sir,  a  rope-dancer  concentrates  in  himself  all  the  Theo- 
logical and  Cardinal  Virtues.  We  will  begin  with  Tem- 
perance. Sir,  if  the  joys  of  the  bottle  entice  him  one 
inch  beyond  the  line  of  sobriety,  his  life  or  his  limbs  must 


98          THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

pay  the  forfeit  of  his  excess.  Then,  sir,  there  is  Faith 
without  unshaken  confidence  in  his  own  powers,  and  full 
assurance  that  the  rope  is  firm,  his  temperance  will  be 
of  little  advantage ;  the  unsteadiness  of  his  nerves  will 
prove  as  fatal  as  the  intoxication  of  his  brain.  Next,  sir, 
we  have  Hope  :  a  dance  so  dangerous  who  ever  exhibited 
unless  lured  by  the  hope  of  fortune  or  fame  ?  Charity 
next  follows :  arid  what  instance  of  Charity  shall  be 
opposed  to  that  of  him  who,  in  the  hope  of  administering 
to  the  gratification  of  others,  braves  the  hiss  of  multi- 
tudes, and  derides  the  dread  of  death  ?  Then,  sir,  what 
man  will  withhold  from  the  funambulist  the  .praise  of 
Justice,  who  considers  his  inflexible  uprightness,  and 
that  he  holds  his  balance  with  so  steady  a  hand  as  neither 
to  incline  to  the  one  side  or  the  other  ?  Nor,  in  the  next 
place,  is  his  Prudence  more  disputable  than  his  justice. 
And,  sir,  those  who  shall  refuse  to  the  rope-dancer  the 
applauses  due  to  temperance,  faith,  hope,  charity,  justice, 
and  prudence,  yet  will  scarcely  be  so  hardened  as  to  deny 
him  the  laurels  of  fortitude.  He  that  is  content  to  totter 
on  a  cord  while  his  fellow-mortals  tread  securely  on  the 
broad  basis  of  terra  firma — who  performs  the  jocund 
evolutions  of  the  dance  on  a  superficies  compared  with 
which  the  verge  of  a  precipice  is  a  stable  station,  may 
rightfully  snatch  the  wreath  from  the  conqueror  and  the 
martyr — may  boast  that  he  exposes  himself  to  hazards 
from  which  he  might  fly  to  the  cannon's  mouth  as  a 
refuge  or  a  relaxation !  Sir,  let  us  now  be  told  no  more 
of  the  infamy  of  the  rope-dancer!* 

"  The  masonic  career  of  Bro.  Dunckerley  was  brilliant 
as  the  stately  progress  of  a  comet  amidst  the  permanent 
orbs  of  heaven ;  and  he  was  regarded,  according  to  the 
testimony  of  an  eminent  contemporary,  as  a  great  ma- 
sonic luminary.  He  was  truly  a  Master  in  Israel ;  and, 
by  the  powerful  efficacy  of  his  moral  example,  controlled 
the  destinies  of  the  Order,  which 

*  From  pole  to  pole, 

Its  sacred  law  expands, 
Far  as  the  mighty  waters  roll, 
To  bless  remotest  lands.' 

And   his  memory  will  be  dear  to   every  true-hearted 
Brother  as  long  as  Masonry  shall  endure.     When  his 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  99 

year  of  office  expired,  the  Brethren  earnestly  entreated 
him  to  retain  possession  of  the  chair;  but  his  public 
duties  left  him  no  time  to  devote  to  the  business  of  a 
private  Lodge,  and  he  felt  himself  obliged  to  decline  the 
offer,  although  he  expressed  his  extreme  reluctance  to 
dissolve  his  connection  with  a  Society  of  Brethren, 
amongst  whom  he  had  enjoyed  so  many  hours  of  unal- 
loyed happiness. 

"  He  did  not,  however,'7  the  Square  continued,  as  if  he 
knew  not  when  he  had  said  enough  in  praise  of  this  dis- 
tinguished Brother,  "  he  did  not  cease  to  evince,  on  all 
occasions,  an  anxious  desire  to  promote  the  sacred  cause 
of  Masonry  long  after  his  resignation  of  the  Chair  of  our 
Lodge  ;  and  under  his  able  superintendence  the  affairs  of 
his  Provinces  were  prosperous  and  well  managed  ;12  for 

12  Amongst  other  instances  of  benefits  which  Avere  derived  from  his 
zeal  and  activity  as  a  P.  G.  M.,  may  be  mentioned  with  commenda- 
tion, his  resuscitation  of  the  old  Lodge,  No.  59,  according  to  the 
authority  of  the  engraved  Lists,  but  numbered  39  in  the  printed 
Quarterly  Communications,  holden  at  the  White  Bear  in  Bath,  which 
was  established  May  13,  1733,  and  its  union  with  the  Royal  Cum- 
berland Lodge  in  that  city,  No.  309,  in  1784.  The  latter  had  been 
recently  instituted  by  himself;  and  he  projected  the  junction  to 
enable  it  to  take  precedence  in  the  Province  by  the  adoption  of  the 
former  number,  which,  at  the  closing  up  of  the  Lists  of  Lodges  in 
1792,  was  advanced  to  No.  36.  I  have  the  pleasure  of  offering  to  my 
readers  the  following  reminiscence  of  this  eminent  Mason,  extracted 
from  the  private  MSS.  of  Bro.  Charles  Phillott,  a  banker  in  Bath, 
who  was  initiated  by  Bro.  Dunckerley,  and  proved,  for  many  years, 
an  active  and  zealous  member  of  the  Lodge.  It  appears  to  have  been 
the  first  meelting  after  the  union  of  the  two  Lodges. 

"At  a  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  called  the  Royal 
Cumberland  Lodge,  held  at  the  Bear  Inn,  in  the  city  of  Bath,  on 
Wednesday,  the  llth  day  of  August,  1784,  pursuant  to  a  Warrant  of 
Dispensation  for  that  purpose,  under  the  hand  and  seal  of  Thomas 
Dunckerley,  Esq.,  Provincial  Grand  Master  for  the  counties  of  Essex, 
Gloucester,  Dorset,  and  Somerset,  bearing  date  the  7th  day  of  August, 
1784.  The  following  Brethren  were  assembled.' 

"Brother  Thomas  Dunckerley,  P.  G.  M. — M.  pro  tern. 
"         William  Street,  S.  W. — pro  tern. 
"        Milborne  West,  J.  W. — pro  tern. 
"         Thomas  West,  T.— pro  tern. 

Harry  Atwood,  )  Membora  of  the  said  Lodge. 
"         Philip  George,    $ 

John  Smith,  P.  G.  Sy.  } 

"      ,  Thomas  Woolley,  P.  G.  Stew,    I  „.  .. 
Peter  Appleby,  P.  G.  Stew. 
William  Birchall.  J 

44  A  Lodge  of  the  first  degree  was  opened  in  due  form,  and  it  was 


100        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

Freemasonry  was  all  in  all  to  Bro.  Dunckerley,  whether 
as  an  employment,  an  amusement,  or  a  medium  for  the 
practice  of  every  moral  and  social  duty.  He  gave 
numerous  masonic  parties  at  Hampton  Court,  where  he 
resided,  to  eminent  Brethren  in  all  classes  of  society, 
amongst  whom  I  could  name,  if  I  were  so  disposed, 
many  estimable  men,  whose  virtues  shed  a  lustre  on 
their  rank  "and  title ;  and  where  was  the  Brother  whc 
did  not  covet  the  honour  of  a  card  to  these  most  agree- 
able reunions  ?  Nor  did  his  profuse  hospitality,  though 
it  trenched  awfully,  on  his  purse  and  his  time,  prevent 
his  regular  attendance  on  the  public  meetings  and  festi- 
vals of  the  Craft,  and  particularly  in  those  provinces 
where  he  held  rank.  But  it  made  him  poor.  And, 
coupled  with  his  liberality,  which  never  suffered  a  needy 
Brother  to  apply  in  vain,  his  pecuniary  difficulties  ceased 
only  with  his  life.  Quando  ullum  invenicmus  parent  ?  He 
died  at  Portsmouth,  A.D.  J.795,  at  the  age  of  71  years, 
universally  lamented  by  the  Fraternity."13 

proposed  and  unanimously  agreed  that  Charles  Phillott,  of  the  said 
city  of  Bath,  Banker,  bo  made  a  Mason.  He  was  called  in ;  received 
the  first  degree,  and  the  Lodge  was  then  closed.  After  which  a  Lodge 
of  the  second  degree  was  opened,  when  our  Brother  Charles  Phillott 
was  passed,  and  the  Lodge  closed." 

13  A  writer  (Fidus)  in  The  Freemasons'  Quarterly  Review,  1842, 
exclaims,  when  recording  this  event,  "Alas!  for  human  nature! 
Bro.  Dunckerley 's  masonic  example  was  lost  on  his  son,  who  embit- 
tered the  last  years  of  his  existence.  Extravagance  straitened  the 
means — disorderly  conduct  afflicted  the  mind  of  the  fond,  unhappy 
parent.  Every  means  were  tried  ineffectually  to  reclaim  the  wretched 
son.  At  his  father's  death,  there  being  no  provision  left,  he  became 
a  wanderer  and  an  outcast.  At  last  he  became  a  bricklayer's  labourer, 
and  was  seen  carrying  a  hod  on  his  shoulders,  ascending  a  ladder ! 
This  poor  fellow's  misfortunes  and  misconduct  at  length  terminated, 
and  the  grandson  of  a  king  died  in  a  cellar  in  St.  Giles's." 


CHAPTER  VII. 

DISCIPLINE. DR.  DODD 

1772—1777. 


"  Sezets,  senhors,  e  aiats  pas ; 
So  que  direm  ben  escoutas ; 
Car  la  lisson,  es  de  vertat, 
Non  by  a  mot  de  falsetat." 

KAYNOUARD. 

! 

*'  Silent  be  they,  and  far  from  hence  remove,  j 

By  scenes  like  ours  not  likely  to  improve  ; 
Who  never  paid  the  honour'd  muse  her  rights, 
Who  senseless  lived  in  wild,  impure  delights ; 
I  bid  them  once,  I  bid  them  twice  begone, 
I  bid  them  thrice,  in  still  a  louder  tone  : 
Far  hence  depart,  whilst  we  with  voice  and  song, 
Our  solemn  feast,  our  tuneful  nights  prolong.". 

ARISTOPHANES. — Beloe's  Translation. 

"  Freemasonry  annihilates  all  parties,  conciliates  all  private  opin- 
V>ns,  and  renders  those  who,  by  their  Almighty  Father,  were  made  of 
one  blood,  to  be  also  of  one  heart  and  one  mind ; — Brethren  bound, 
firmly  bound  together  by  that  indissoluble  tie,  the  love  of  their  God, 
and  the  love  of  their  kind."— DR.  DODD. 


"  IT  was  the  observation  of  a  wisdom  greater  than 
man  can  boast,"  said  the  Square,  resuming  its  Revela- 
tions, "  that  a  house  or  kingdom  divided  against  itself 
cannot  stand;  and  experience  proves  the  soundness  of 
the  axiom..  This  proverb  may  be  applied  with  great 
propriety  to  an  institution  whose  members  are  segregated 
from  the  rest  of  the  world  by  obligations,  customs,  and 
laws  of  a  peculiar  nature,  yet  retain  their  independence 
of  character  by  a  perfect  freedom  of  thought  and  action. 
In  such  a  society  a  judicious  ruler  is  absolutely  essential, 
not  merely  to  its  prosperity,  but  to  its  very  existence. 
If  the  shepherd  be  careless  or  inefficient,  the  flock  will  be 
scattered  a,broad.  It  will  be  in  vain  to  apply  stimulants. 
All  love  for  the  institution  will  vanish  if  it  lack  the  food 
which  gives  it  vitality  and  freshness. 


102         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

"Unity  is  the  mainspring  of  Freemasonry.  Destroy 
that,  and  the  machinery  will  fall  in  pieces.  The  divine 
science  will  be  unattractive,  if  divested  of  its  divinity  or 
vivifying  power.  When  the  soul  has  departed,  the  body 
becomes  a  putrid  mass  of  worthless  carrion.  It  will  be 
a  difficult  matter  to  preserve  the  links  in  the  chain  or 
unity  unbroken,  unless  the  Master  pursue  an  accommoda- 
ting policy,  which  may  cause  the  Brethren  to  be  mutually 
pleased  with  each  other's  society,  accompanied  by  an 
inflexible  regard  to  discipline,  which,  while  it  allows 
freedom  of  action,  will  preserve  inviolable  the  respectful 
submission  that  is  due  to  the  chair,  as  its  undoubted  and 
unalienable  prerogative. 

"These  remarks,"  continued  the  Square,  "have  arisen 
out  of  the  condition  of  our  Lodge  at  the  point  of  time 
to  which  events  have  gradually  conducted  us ;  for  I  have 
now  the  misfortune  to  record  another  melancholy  in- 
stance of  mismanagement  and  its  consequences;  which 
will  show  that  a  man  may  be  extremely  clever  and 
intelligent  in  the  ordinary  business  of  life,  and  yet  be 
incapable  of  conducting  the  affairs  of  a  Lodge,  so  as  to 
produce  unanimity  amongst  the  Brethren,  and  prosperity 
to  the  Institution. 

"  Our  next  Master,  who  was  installed  on  St.  John's 
day,  Dec,  27,  1771,  as  Bro.  Dunckerley's  successor,  was 
a  medical  practitioner  of  some  repute.  Being  an  intelli- 
gent young  man,  and  fond  of  Masonry,  he  had  passed 
through  the  preliminary  offices  creditably,  and  had  not 
only  acquired  a  competent  knowledge  of  the  Lectures 
and  ceremonies,  but  to  a  certain  extent  possessed  the  con- 
fidence of  the  Brethren. 

"  But,  alas !  my  friend,  with  all  this  sailr  he  wanted 
ballast.  Like  Sterne's  YoricJc,  he  was  utterly  unpractised 
in  the  world;  and  at  the  age  of  thirty,  knew  just  about 
as  well  how  to  steer  his-  course  in  it,  as  a  romping,  un- 
suspicious girl  of  thirteen.  His  great  failing  was  a 
constitutional  infirmity  which  biased  his  judgment  witli 
respect  to  the  progress  of  time.  Tempus  fugit  was  no 
motto  for  him.  He  could  not  understand  it.  And,  conse- 
quently, he  seldom  kept  an  appointment  with  any  degree 
of  punctuality.  His  friends  and  patients  had  frequent 
occasion  to  complain  of  neglect  and  disappointment  in 
expected  professional  visits,  and  the  receipt  of  medicine. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         103 

In  a  word,  procrastinotian  became  a  habit,  and  he  strove 
not  to  conquer  it. 

"When  first  installed  into  the  Chair  of  our  Lodge,  he 
appeared  likely  to  realize  the  expectations  of  his  support- 
ers, and  prove  an  excellent  and  irreproachable  Master. 
But  it  was  soon  found  that  he  had  no  firmness  of  charac- 
ter. Serious  personal  disputes  were  allowed  to  be 
introduced  into  the  Lodge,  which,  finally,  deprived  him 
of  the  power  to  command.  And  the  reins  of  authority 
being  once  relaxed,  confusion  usurped  the  place  of  order, 
— discussion  was  confined  within  no  decent  limits, — the 
disputants  were  clamorous  to  be  heard, — all  spoke 
together, — sometimes  half  a  dozen  Brethren  being  on 
their  legs  at  once,  till  the  Lodge  became  a  type  of  Bed- 
lam. Some  Brethren  were  expelled,  others  withdrew, 
and  Bro.  Dunckerley  soon  ceased  to  attend  in  his  place. 

"  The  corpus  delicti  was  in  the  R.  W.  M.,  who  was  fre- 
quently admonished  in  private  by  some  judicious  friends; 
but  he  was  as  obstinate  as  the  Abbess  of  Andouillet's 
mules.  Y.ou  might  bou,  bou,  bou,— fou,  fou,  fou, — gre, 
gre,  gre, — tre,  tre,  tre, — to  all  eternity;  he  was  perfectly 
insensible  to  every  thing  but  his  own  egregious  vanity; 
and  even  if  you  gave  him  a  smart  cut  with  the  whip,  to 
rouse  his  sluggish  zeal  into  activity,  he  would  merely 
switch  his  tail, — the  mule  was  still  a  mule, — and  remain- 
ed so  to  the  end  of  the  chapter. 

"I  have  mentioned  his  want  of  punctuality,"  said  the 
Square.  "This  was  another  failing  which  produced 
strange  consequences ;  but  it  appeared  to  be  insuperable, 
and  not  to  be  suppressed.  After  a  few  months,  he  began 
to  be  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  then  half  an  hour  behind  his 
time,  sometimes  an  hour.  This  conduct,  as  it  was 
nightly  repeated,  disgusted  the  Brethren ;  and  they  gradu- 
ally dropped  off,  when  the  Master  did  not  appear  at  the 
time  named  in  the  summons.  They  refused  to  wait, 
because  it  introduced  another  evil  of  no  small  magni- 
tude; it  delayed  the  closing  of  the  Lodge  to  an  untimely 
hour,  which  proved  a  source  of  great  inconvenience  to 
many  of  the  old  members. 

"  This  unpropitious  course  was  continued,  until,  from 
a  Lodge  of  thirty  or  forty  Brethren,  in  constant  attend- 
ance, which  was  the  usual  average  number  during  Bro. 
Dunckerley 's  rule,  they  dwindled  away  to  such  an 


104        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

extent,  that  when  the  R.  W.  M.  made  his  appearance,  an 
hour,  perhaps,  too  late,  it  frequently  happened  that  he 
did  not  find  a  sufficient  number  of  Brethren  present  to 
perform  the  opening  ceremony;  and  they  were  obliged 
to  separate,  weary  and  dissatisfied. 

"  Several  of  the  members,  recollecting  the  example  of 
Bros.  Dagge  and  Etunckerley,  exerted  their  influence  to 
prevent  the  consequences  of  such  extraordinary  conduct; 
but  the  new  R.  W.  M.  was  too  much  wedded  to  his  own 
system  of  mismanagement  to  listen  to  their  suggestions. 
He  knew  no  law  but  his  own  will  and  pleasure,  and  the 
Brethren  had  only  this  alternative, — to  succomb  or  se- 
cede; and  many  of  them  chose  the  latter.  They  gave 
him  every  fair  chance  to  retrieve  his  error;  but  nothing 
could  rouse  him  from  his  lethargy;  and  the  utter  dissolu- 
tion of  the  Lodge  was  anticipated,  unless  some  alterati<m 
took  place  in  his  conduct. 

"It  is  evident,"  the  Square  continued,  "that  he  was 
exceedingly  annoyed  at  this  gradual  defalcation  of  the 
Brethren,  because,  at  length,  to  the  astonishment  of 
every  member  present,  he  made  the  following  extraordi- 
nary proposition  from  his  place  in  the  Lodge :  l  That  in 
future,  every  officer  who  is  not  in  attendance  before  the 
expiration  of  five  minutes  beyond  the  prescribed  time  of 
opening  the  Lodge,  shall  be  subject  to  a  fine  in  the  fol- 
lowing proportion.  The  R.  W.  M.  half  a  crown;  the 
Wardens  one  shilling  each;  and  the  inferior  officers  six- 
pence for  each  offence ;  and  that  the  operation  of  the  law 
commence  on  the  next  Lodge  night,  whether  it  be  a 
Lodge  of  emergency  or  otherwise.' 

"  This  proposition  was,  of  course,  carried  nem.  con., 
and  the  only  wonder  was,  that  he  should  emanate  from 
the  Chair,  as  it  was  universally  believed  that  he  had  made 
a  rod  for  his  own  back,  and  that  he  would  be  the  first, 
and  perhaps  the  only  delinquent.  And  to  establish  the 
decree  more  firmly,  like  the  law  of  the  Medes  and  Per- 
sians, which  altereth  not,  he  called  on  the  secretary  to 
hand  him  the  minute-book,  and  he  made  the  entry  with 
his  own  hand,  and  read  it  publicly  in  the  ears  of  all 
the  Brethren. 

"  On  the  next  Lodge  night,"  the  Square  went  on  to 
say,  "the  Brethren  were  all  present  at  the  time  named 
in  the  summons,  except  the  R.  W.  M. ;  and  after  wait- 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        105 

ing  a  full  hour,  he  made  his  appearance,  as  usual,  in  a 
very  great  bustle,  and  opened  the  Lodge.  As  soon  as 
the  minutes  of  the  last  Lodge  had  been  read  and  con- 
firmed, an  aged  Brother  rose,  and  observed  that,  as  the 
R.  W.  M.  had  broken  his  own  law,  it  was  only  just  that 
he  should  pay  the  penalty,  and  requested  him  to  hand 
over  to  the  treasurer  the  sum  of  half  a  crown,  to  give  effect 
to  his  own  proposition,  and  as  an  example  to  other  Breth- 
ren who  might  violate  the  rule  in  future.  The  R.  W. 
M.  replied  without  hesitation,  that  he  had  been  profes- 
sionally engaged,  and,  therefore,  was  not  liable,  and  that 
if  another  word  was  said  about  the  matter  he  would 
vacate  the  chair,  and  withdraw  himself  from  the  Lodge, 
as  a  subscribing  member,  which,  he  added,  in  its  present 
divided  state,  would  effectually  extinguish  it. 

"  At  this  announcement  the  Brethren  were  surprised 
and  disgusted,  and  several  members  rose  and  protested 
against  the  conduct  of  the  R.  W.  M.,  as  equally  unma- 
sonic  and  ungentlemanly.  The  Master  was  loud  in  his 
reply,  and  so  were  they  in  the  rejoinder.  And  after  this 
extraordinary  display  of  weakness  and  petulance  com- 
bined, the  Brethren  vanished  as  rapidly  and  certainly  as  the 
sparks  from  a  sheet  of  paper  consumed  by  fire,  after  the 
blaze  is  exhausted ;  and  a  few  only  were  left  to  sustain 
the  integrity  of  the  Lodge. 

"  From  this  unfortunate  dispute,  the  Lodge  with  diffi- 
culty recovered.  The  meetings  became  gradually  smaller 
and  more  *  beautifully  less,'  until  the  Lodge  drew  to  an 
end,  like  a  tale  that  is  told.  And  this  once  celebrated 
Society  would  have  been  an  extinct  tradition,  if  extra- 
neous aid  had  not  been  secured  to  prevent  so  sad  a  catas- 
trophe. But,  fortunately,  there  came  to  the  rescue,  at 
the  last  extremity,  a  popular  and  talented  Brother,  who 
restored  the  equipoise,  and  saved  the  Lodge  from  disso- 
lution. 

"  In  the  preceding  Revelations,"  the  Square  continued, 
"  you  will  not  fail  to  have  remarked  that  the  Lodge  had 
undergone  many  vicissitudes,  but  never,  till  this  present 
year,  did  it  approach  so  nearly  to  the  verge  of  complete 
decay.  In  fact,  a  preliminary  meeting  of  the  Brethren 
was  held,  as  the  year  drew  towards  its  conclusion,  to 
determine  whether  it  would  not  be  expedient  to  resign 
the  Warrant,  and  unite  with  some  other  Lodge,  as  several 


106        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

\ 

of  the  members  had  already  done,  when  a  Brother  inci- 
dentally mentioned  the  popularity  of  Dr.  Dodd,  and  ex- 
pressed his  regret  that  he  was  not  a  member;  for  it 
appeared  to  him  indubitable,  that,  if  this  celebrated 
Brother  were  elevated  to  the  Chair,  the  Lodge  would  not 
only  be  saved,  but  also  restored  to  its  former  state  of 
solvency. 

"  The  hint  was  taken,  and  a  deputation  was  commis- 
sioned to  invite  Dr.  Dodd  to  become  a  member  of  the 
Lodge,  and  to  accept  the  office  of  its  R.  W.  M.,  as  he 
had  already  acted  in  that  capacity  more  than  once  in 
other  Lodges,  with  distinguished  success. 

"Now,  I  need  not  tell  you,"  said  the  Square,  paren- 
thetically, "  that  Dr.  Dodd  was  an  eloquent  and  talented 
man,  and  an  assiduous  and  zealous  Mason.  He  had  long 
been  a  popular  preacher,  and  his  learning  and  zeal  recom- 
mended him  to  the  notice  of  his  superiors  in  the  Church. 
His  activity  and  promptitude  in  advocating  charitable 
institutions  became  proverbial ;  and  whenever  it  was 
found  necessary  to  replenish  the  funds  of  a  benevolent 
establishment,  the  suggestion  was, — *  Ask  Dodd  to  preach 
for  it ;'  and  the  experiment  was  generally  attended  with 
success.  The  honours  of  his  profession  were  not  denied 
him  :  for  he  was  Rector  of  Hockliffe  and  Winge,  Preben- 
dary of  Brecon,  Chaplain  to  His  Majesty,  and  Grand 
Chaplain  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons. 

"  The  deputation  consisted  of  Brothers  Captain  George 
Smith,  Minshull,  and  Dr.  Sequiera ;  and  when  these 
worthy  Brothers  arrived  at  Dr.  Dpdd's  residence,  the 
rev.  gentleman  was  mounting  his  horse  at  the  door ;  but, 
at  the  request  of  the  deputation,  with  all  of  whom  he 
was  on  terms  of  intimacy,  he  threw  the  reins  to  his 
servant,  and  entered  the  house  in  their  company. 

"  On  being  admitted,  the  subject  of  their  mission 
was  opened  by  Captain  Smith  with  becoming  gravity  and 
respect.  He  stated,  in  energetic  language,  the  continued 

prosperity  of  the Lodge  under  several  eminent 

Masters,  and  particularly  Bros.  Desaguliers,  Manning- 
ham,  and  Dunckerley ;  touched  with  great  delicacy  on 
the  most  glaring  instances  of  mismanagement  committed 
by  the  present  R.  W.  M.,  whose  tenure  of  office  was, 
fortunately,  on  the  eve  of  expiring,  and  the  consequent 
prostration  of  the  Lodge  by  the  secession  of  its  most 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        107 

valuable  members,  all,  or  the  greater  part  of  whom,  he 
said,  would  certainly  return,  if  the  Lodge  should  be  able 
to  resume  its  functions  under  an  efficient  Master,  whose 
popularity  and  position  in  the  Order  might  have  a  ten- 
dency to  restore  its  primitive  reputation  as  one  of  the 
oldest  Lodges  on  the  list,  and  the  possessor  of  this, — the 
iewel  of  Sir  Christopher  Wren, — exhibiting  me,"  added 
the  Square,  with  no  little  pride,  "  else  how  should  I  have 
been  able  to  detail  the  particulars  of  this  important  in 
terview  ?  And  Captain  Smith  concluded  by  expressing 
a  hope  that  Bro.  Dodd  would  accede  to  the  unanimous 
wishes  of  all  the  old  members,  and  accept  the  office  of 
R.  W.  M.  of  the Lodge. 

"  The  Rev.  Doctor  replied  that,  although  his  time  was 
rather  limited,  as  he  had  a  sermon  to  preach  for  an 
interesting  charity  on  that  very  day,  and  that,  in  fact,  he 
ought  to  be  on  his  journey,  yet  he  hoped  to  be  able  to 
spare  half  an  hour  for  deliberation.  'But  you  will  par- 
don me,'  he  added,  *  if, — while  I  express  my  gratification 
at  the  preference  you  have  shown  me, — I  hesitate  before 
I  finally  consent  to  take  upon  myself  the  responsible 
duty  you  propose,  under  circumstances  so  difficult  and 
adverse  as  those  you  have  had  the  candour  to  explain.  I 
am  not  altogether  ignorant  of  the  unpropitious  manage- 
ment of  the  Brother  to  whom  you  have  alluded,  and 
deeply  regret  that  a  young  man  of  estimable  character 
and  high  attainments  should  be  so  inconsiderate  as  to 
compromise  himself  and  you  by  a  succession  of  injudi- 
cious acts,  which,  I  am  sure,  on  mature  consideration, 
his  conscience  cannot  approve. 

"  '  However,'  he  continued,  '  the  mischief,  it  appears, 
has  been  inflicted,  and  it  only  remains  to  consider  how 
we  are  to  provide  an  effectual  remedy.  You  are  pleased 
to  think  it  possible  that  I  may  be  instrumental  in  the 
restoration  of  the  Lodge  to  its  primitive  statu  quo,  which 
was  rather  high.  If  I  were  fully  assured  that  such  would 
be  the  result,  I  might  be  induced  to  <  gird  up  my  loins' 
to  the  task;  but  1  am  afraid,  from  your  own  showing, 
that  several  of  your  most  influential  members  have  no 
only  withdrawn  from  the  Lodge,  but  have  taken  a  final 
leave  of  it,  by  actually  uniting  themselves  to  other  more 
flourishing  societies;  and  they  might  feel  great  delicacy 
in  dissolving  their  new  connection  to  return  to  the  em- 


103  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

braces  of  their  first  love.  It  is,  therefore,  probable  that, 
in  anticipating  the  re-union  of  all  the  old  members,  you 
have  taken  too  wide  a  margin.  Nor  can  you  be  ignorant 
that,  without  their  concurrence  and  active  co-operation, 
our  prospects  of  a  successful  issue  may  reasonably  be 
considered  doubtful.  But,'  he  added,  abstractedly,  and 
half  aloud,  'dissolve, — a  Lodge  like  this  dissolve, — it 
must  not  be,  it  cannot  be  permitted,  although  the  chances 
appear  to  be  against  it.' 

"'Help  us,  then,  with  your  influence  and  experience, 
my  good  Brother,'  said  Dr.  Sequiera.  '  You  will  have 
the  most  animating  prospect  of  success.  The  difficulty 
to  which  you  have  alluded  has  been  foreseen,  and  meas- 
ures have  been  taken  to  test  its  accuracy.  Several  of  the 
seceding  Brethren  have  been  applied  to  personally  to  as- 
certain their  sentiments  on  this  point,  and,  with  few  ex- 
ceptions, they  have  all  expressed  their  approbation  of  the 
proponed  plan  to  resuscitate  the  Lodge,  and  have  pledged 
themselves  to  reunite  with  the  Brethren,  on  receiving 
an  assurance  that  a  Brother  of  Dr.  Dodd's  eminence  shall 
have  been  elevated  to  the  chair.' 

"Not  to  detain  you  longer  on  this  point,"  the  Square 
continued,  swinging  itself  majestically  round  on  one  of  its 
silver  limbs,  "as  I  have  many  other  revelations  of  great 
importance  to  make  respecting  the  doings  of  Masonry  in 
the  eighteenth  century,  I  will  merely  add  that,  after  a  few 
other  minor  objections  had  been  disposed  of,  Dr.  Dodd 
consented  to  be  put  in  nomination  for  the  chair  of  the 
Lodge  at  the  ensuing  choice  of  officers;  for,  he  said,  it 
would  be  discreditable  to  the  Order  to  suffer  such  a 
Lodge  to  fall  without  an  effort  being  made  in  its  behalf. 
It  may  be  needless  to  add,  that  he  was  elected  unani- 
mously, and  was  installed  on  St.  John's  day,  1772. 

We  found,"  said  the  Square,  "the  new  R.  W.  M 
very  methodical  in  all  his  masonic  arrangements;  and 
hence,  you  may  be  certain  that  his  Lodge  was  placed  at 
once  under  a  systematic  mode  of  management.  He  used 
to  say  that,  as  the  R.  W.  M.  represents  the  rising  sun,  he 
ought  to  make  his  appearance  in  the  east  with  the  un- 
varying regularity  which  his  protoype  displays.  Ana, 
accordingly,  the  following  routine  was  always  punctually 
observed.  He  opened  the  Lodge  at  the  exact  hour  and 
minute  expressed  in  the  Bye-laws;  and  from  this  practice 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         109 

he  never,  on  any  occasion,  deviated.  When  the  Lodge 
was  open,  and  the  Officers  at  their  post,  the  Secretary 
was  desired  to  read  the  Minutes  of  the  last  Lodge,  which 
were  then  formally  put  for  confirmation.  If  there  hap- 
pened to  be  an  initiation,  passing,  or  raising,  on  the 
books,  it  took  precedence  of  all  other  business,  and  pre- 
parations were  immediately  made  for  introducing  the 
candidate.  After  the  ceremony  was  over,  any  motion,  of 
which  notice  stood  on  the  book,  was  entertained,  and 
temperately  discussed.  Then  followed  a  lecture,  adapted 
in  length  to  time,  for  the  J.  W.  was  called  on  to  exercise 
his  peculiar  duty  at  nine  o'clock  precisely.  At  the  expi- 
ration of  half  an  hour,  which  was  spent  in  cheerful  con- 
versation, song,  and  toast,  the  R.  W.  Master's  gavel  struck 
one,  and  was  followed  by  a  dead  silence, — the  Lodge  was  ' 
called  from  refreshment  to  labour,  with  the  proper  cere- 
monies ;  and  the  R.  W.  M.  was  prepared  to  receive  pro- 
positions of  candidates,  notices  of  motions,  or  any  general 
observations  for  the  benefit  of  Masonry  in  general,  or  that 
particular  Lodge ;  and  at  ten  the  Lodge  was  closed,  and 
the  Brethren  departed  to  their  own  homes, — except  at 
the  quarterly  suppers,  which  were  conducted  with  the 
same  order  and  decorum,  and  broke  up  at  midnight. 

"  The  consequences  of  this  system  of  regularity,"  the 
Square  continued,  "  were  soon  visible  in  the  increase  and 
improvement  of  the  members ;  and  many  of  the  Brethren 
became  so  well  acquainted  with  the  ritual,  and  under- 
stood the  ceremonies  so  perfectly,  as  to  be  fully  equal  to 
the  duties  of  the  chair ;  although,  for  the  succeeding 
three  years,  no  one  would  accept  the  office  of  R-.  W.  M. 
under  an  apprehension  that  the  retirement  of  the  present 
Master  might  perchance  deteriorate  from  the  popularity 
which  the  Lodge  had  so  deservedly  attained  under  his 
judicious  management.  It  is  true  that  Dr.  Dodd  fre- 
quently expressed  a  wish  to  resign  the  chair  at  the  expi- 
ration of  his  year  of  office,  but  he  was  always  re-elected 
without  a  dissentient  voice. 

"And  what  was  the  secret  of  this  continued  popu- 
larity?" said  the  Square,  interrogatively.  "I  can  tell 
you.  It  was  comprised  in  a  single  word — DISCIPLINE. 
He  would  never  overlook  an  infringement  of  the  Bye-laws. 
On  that  point  he  was  inflexible.  Discipline,  he  said,  was 
the  cement  of  the  Order.  Once  relax  your  discipline, 


110        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

and  the  whole  fabric  will  soon  be  dissolved.  Loosen  the 
cement  of  the  Lodge,  and  the  building  will  fall  to  the 
ground.  The  result  of  this  management  was,  that,  dur- 
ing the  time  he  held  his  high  office,  there  was  not  a  single 
dispute  in  the  Lodge ;  and  all  differences  of  opinion  were 
settled  so  amicably,  as  to  give  entire  satisfaction  to  all 
the  parties  concerned. 

"  He  never  paraded  himself  to  the  prejudice  of  others, 
but  embraced  every  opportunity  of  *  conferring  honour 
where  honour  was  due.'  Deserving  Brethren  were 
brought  prominently  forward,  as  objects  of  esteem  and 
confidence ;  and  all  masonic  rewards  were  accessible  to 
the  industrious  Brother,  without  regard  to  his  situation  in 
life,  provided  he  were  a  good  and  worthy  man  in  his 
social  relations.  The  Lodge  might  be  compared  to  a  hive 
of  bees.  All  were  equally  industrious;  every  Brother 
discharged,  with  assiduous  punctuality,  his  individual 
duty,  without  reference  to  others;  order  and  harmony 
prevailed  amidst  the  multifarious  employment ;  no  jost- 
ling, no  interference  with  each  other's  work, — all  united 
in  the  one  great  labour  of  increasing  the  stock  of  honey, 
until  the  hive  was  abundantly  stored  with  its  golden 
sweetness. 

"  Now,  although  the  attainments  of  Dr.  Dodd  in  Ma- 
sonry were  of  the  highest  order,  he  assumed  no  airs  of 
superiority,  and  was  ever  ready  to  communicate  know- 
ledge to  all  who  were  willing  to  receive  it.  His  conduct 
in  the  chair  was  mild  and  dignified;  and,  although  he 
sustained  its  authority  by  suppressing  at  once  and  firmly 
all  attempts  at  insubordination  or  infraction  of  the  Con- 
stitutions, he  never  took  advantage  of  his  power  to  pro- 
mote any  private  purposes  of  his  own,  or  to  silence  a 
temporary  opponent  by  harshness  of  manner,  or  an  undue 
exercise  of  the  authority  vested  in  him  as  the  Chief.  In  a 
word,  the  work  of  the  Lodge  was  scientifically  arranged ; 
and  a  judicious  division  of  labour  did  not  fail  to  produce 
a  harmonious  result. 

"During  the  mastership  of  Dr.  Dodd,"  the  Square 
continued,  "  a  circumstance  occurred  which  I  must  not 
pass  over  in  silence,  as  it  displays  a  discriminating  libe- 
rality equally  with  a  high  sense  of  duty  towards  a  Bro- 
ther suffering  under  unmerited  distress  and  persecution. 
We  had  at  this  time  a  member  whom  I  will  call  Bro, 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        Ill 

Watson.  He  had  been  in  reputable  circumstances  dur- 
ing the  early  part  of  his  life,  but,  through  unavoidable 
misfortunes,  he  had  gradually  declined,  until,  at  length, 
he  found  it  difficult  to  provide  for  the  necessities  of  his 
family.  As  he  had  been  for  many  years  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Lodge,  and  uniformly  active  and  zealous, 
he  was  held  in  great  esteem  by  the  Brethren  at  large. 

"It  so  happened  that  he  had  given  mortal  offence  to  a 
certain  attorney,  who  was  the  most  artful  of  dodgers 
(excuse  the  phrase,  but  it  is  not  misapplied,)  and  the 
magnum  opus  of  sheriff's  officers ;  for  he  was  the  son  of  a 
bumbailiff,  and  had  been  the  drudge  of  an  attorney's 
office  for  a  dozen  years  to  earn  his  articles.  This  worthy 
menaced  poor  Bro.  Watson  with  ruin,  whenever  a  chance 
might  arise  for  effecting  it ;  and  every  one  that  knew  him 
was  satisfied  d  priori  that  he  would  keep  his  word. 
Years  passed  over  without  any  such  chance  occurring. 
At  length,  however,  Bro.  Watson  fell  into  insuperable 
difficulties,  and,  in  an  unfortunate  moment,  accepted 
from  the  vindictive  lawyer  a  loan  of  twenty  pounds. 
Like  the  deadly  boa-constrictor,  he  then  proceeded  to 
wind  his  loathly  coils  about  his  prey,  that  no  hope  might 
remain  of  liberation  or  escape. 

"  To  secure  his  victim,  he  had  delayed  his  vengeance, 
that  it  might  be  the  more  certain  and  inevitable.  Under 
the  pretence  of  friendship,  and  pity  for  the  poor  man's 
necessities,  he  declined,  for  three  years  together,  to 
receive  interest  for  his  money,  on  the  pretext  that  the 
payment  might  be  inconvenient ;  but,  at  the  end  of  that 
time,  he  sent  in  a  bill  for  principal,  interest,  and  law  ex- 
penses, amounting  to  thirty  pounds,  with  an  intimation, 
that  if  the  mony  was  not  paid  forthwith,  he  would  arrest 
him  and  throw  him  into  gaol. 

"  This  was  the  trump-card, — you  shall  hear  how  he 
lost  the  game. 

"The  above  gentle  intimation  was  received  by  Bro. 
Watson  a  few  days  before  our  regular  monthly  meeting ; 
and,  as  the  fact  became  known  amongst  the  Brethren, 
the  Lodge  was  numerously  attended.  After  the  usual 
business  had  been  disposed  of,  the  R.  W.  M.  requested 
Bro.  Watson  to  state  his  case,  which  he  did  in  simple  and 
affecting  language, — for  he  was  not  eloquent, — and  the 
sympathy  of  the  Brethren  was  only  equalled  by  their 


112        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

disgust   at   the    pettifogger's    crooked   and   disgraceful 
policy. 

"  When  Bro.  Watson  concluded,  Dr.  Dodd  rose  grace- 
fully from  his  chair,  and  taking  out  his  purse,  announced 
that  he  was  about  to  place  five  guineas  in  the  hands  of 
the  Treasurer,  as  the  nucleus  of  a  subscription,  to  liberate 
their  unfortunate  Brother  from  the  fangs  of  his  persecu- 
tor, expressing,  at  the  same  time,  a  hope  that  the  Breth- 
ren would  be  willing  to  second  his  endeavoursr  and 
commending  to  their  consideration  the  atrocity  of  the 
attempt,  and  the  extreme  suffering  to  which  it  would 
subject  his  wife  and  children,  should  they  permit  it  to  be 
successful.  '  Whether  the  attorney  winces  or  winces  not, 
is  a  matter  of  little  moment,'  continued  the  worthy  Doc- 
tor. '  Let  the  money  be  paid,  and  our  worthy  Brother 
be  rescued  from  his  pitiless  clutches.' 

"  The  appeal  was  responded  to  with  enthusiasm ;  and 
it  was  at  once  and  unanimously  determined  to  save  our 
hapless  Brother  from  destruction.  For  this  purpose, 
twenty  guineas  were  subscribed  on  the  spot ;  and  it  was 
resolved  nem.  dis.  that  the  balance  should  be  taken  from 
the  Lodge  fund,  as  a  loan,  to  be  repaid  on  a  future  day, 
and  the  debt  discharged  without  the  slightest  delay. 

"  The  Master  and  Wardens  called  on  the  attorney  the 
very  next  day  for  that  purpose ;  and  it  is  impossible  to 
express  the  astonishment  which  he  displayed  at  hearing 
that  the  money  had  been  raised  in  the  Lodge  on  the  pre- 
vious evening  as  a  voluntary  offering  to  relieve  the  wants 
and  alleviate  the  distresses  of  a  worthy  and  meritorious 
Brother.  He  could  scarcely  believe  that  such  a  disinter- 
ested instance  of  benevolence  was  possible ;  but,  when 
convinced,  by  ocular  demonstration,  that  it  did  really 
exist,  could  only  say — and  the  expression  was  attended 
with  a  most  remarkable  contortion  of  visage  when  he 
found  his  vengeance  so  effectually  defeated — 'Aye,  this 
is  the  curse  of  Masonry!'1 

"A  few  weeks,  or  it  might  be  months,  afterwards," 
my  gossipping  companion  went  on  to  say,  "  our  R.  W. 
M.  was  requested  to  preach  a  sermon  in  St.  Paul's  church, 
at  Deptford,  for  the  benefit  of  some  masonic  charity — I 
forget  what  it  was — and  an  assertion  which  he  made  from 

1  A  literal  fact. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        113 

the  pulpit,  that  Freemasonry,  according  to  its  present 
management,  is  almost  exclusively  a  Christian  institution, 
gave  rise  to  an  interesting  discussion  respecting  the  ten- 
dency of  the  Order  towards  Christianity,  when  practised 
in  a  Christian  country. 

"  At  the  next  Lodge,  when  the  R.  W.  M.  made  the 
customary  inquiry,  whether  any  Brother  had  anything  to 
propose  for  the  good  of  Masonry  in  general,  or  this  Lodge 
in  particular?  a  young  man  named  Franco,  who  attained 
the  rank  of  President  to  the  Board  of  Grand  Stewards  in 
1780,  rose  and  said,  that  he  had  an  observation  to  make, 
with  permission  of  the  Chair,  which  he  trusted  would 
neither  be  out  of  order,  as  coming  within  the  category  of 
religious  dilutes, — which  was  far  from  his  intention, — nor 
uninteresting  to  the  Brethren. 

"  Leave  being  granted,  Bro.  Franco  proceeded  to 
express  a  doubt  whether  such  a  prayer  as  we  now  use  at 
the  initiation  of  a  candidate,  concluding  with  the  words: 
lE?idue  him  with  divine  wisdom,  that  he  may,  with  the  secrets 
of  Masonry,  be  able  to  unfold  the  mysteries  of  godliness  and 
Christianity.  This  we  humbly  beg  in  the  name  and  for  the 
sake  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  and  Saviour,1  can  be  reasona- 
bly applied  to  an  universal  institution  like  Freemasonry, 
which  deduces  its  origin,  not  only  from  a  period  long 
anterior  to  the  advent  of  Christ,  but  beyond  the  reach  of 
all  accredited  history.  He  could  not  but  conclude  such 
an  appropriation  to  be  sectarian ;  and  he  had  been  much 
surprised  to  hear  the  same  doctrine  publicly  advocated 
from  the  pulpit  by  an  eminent  Christian  minister.  This 
observation  produced  a  debate. 

"  The  defence  of  the  Order,"  continued  the  Square, 
"  was  in  good  and  sufficient  hands.  The  R.  W.  M.  imme- 
diately rose  with  great  solemnity,  and  said  :  '  Brethren, 
in  reply  to  our  worthy  Brother's  observation,  I  will 
take  this  opportunity  of  explaining  my  views  respecting 
the  nature  and  character  of  Fremasonry  as  a  religious  and 
moral  institution.  You  are  all  aware  that  the  revivers  of 
our  symbolical  Order,  at  the  beginning  of  the  present 
century,  applied  themselves  with  great  diligence  to  the 
collection  of  ancient  documents  and  charges;  and, 
amongst  the  rest,  they  found  the  identical  prayer  that 
was  used  in  the  Lodges  of  those  worthy  and  inimitable 


114  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

artists  who  built  our  noble  ecclesiastical  edifices;  and 
Brothers  Desaguliers  and  Anderson  exercised  a  sound 
discretion  in  retaining  it  in  our  improved  ceremonial  as  a 
landmark  or  beacon,  to  point  out  to  succeeding  ages  the 
religious  character  of  the  Institution.  And  for  this  reason 
[  did  not  hesitate  to  affirm  my  belief  from  the  pulpit  that 
Freemasonry,  as  it  is  received  in  this  country,  is  essen- 
tially— although,  perhaps,  not  exclusively — Christian.  I 
am  not,  indeed,  ignorant  that  an  adverse  opinion,  unknown 
in  former  times,  has  recently  been  started,  on  the  assump- 
tion indicated  by  Bro.  Franco,  that  the  Order  originated 
long  before  the  Christian  era.  Although  a  question  of 
great  importance,  I  considered  it  of  too  exclusive  a  nature 
for  discussion  in  a  pulpit  discourse,  which  is  more  parti- 
cularly intended  for  general  edification.  But,  as  we  have 
a  little  spare  time,  if  Bro.  Franco  will  state  his  objections 
in  detail,  I  will  endeavour,  as  far  as  my  abilities  extend, 
to  satisfy  his  inquiries,  and  give  him  the  advantage  of  my 
own  researches  on  this  momentous  subject.' 

"  Bro.  Franco  expressed  his  gratification  at  the  courtesy 
of  the  R.  W.  M.,  and  added,  that  nothing  would  afford 
him  greater  pleasure  than  to  be  enlightened  on  such  an 
intricate  inquiry.  He  was  mistrustful  of  his  own  ability 
to  contend  with  such  a  learned  man  and  excellent  Mason 
as  Dr.  Dodd,  and  should  content  himself  with  simply 
naming  an  argument  which  appeared  to  militate  against 
the  Christian  hypothesis.  He  confessed  he  had  not 
thought  very  deeply  on  the  subject,  but  he  would  suggest, 
for  the  consideration  of  the  Brethren,  whether  Masonry, 
being  coeval  with  the  building  of  the  Temple  at  Jeru- 
salem, which  was  erected  by  the  Jews,  must  not  of 
necessity  be  a  Jewish  institution ;  and,  if  this  be  admit- 
ted, it  cannot  possibly  have  any  connection  with  Christi- 
anity, although  practised  by  Christians  in  common  with 
the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel.  If  it  be  indebted  to  the 
latter  for  its  existence,  and  its  landmarks  be  unalter- 
able, its  fundamental  principles  must  be  exclusively 
Jewish. 

"  Bro.  Dodd  replied,  that  he  conceived  the  argument 
to  be  based  on  a  fallacy  arising  out  of  an  erroneous  view 
of  the  facts.  'A  very  slight  insight  into  the  design  of 
Freemasonry  will  show,'  he  said,  'that,  although  its 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  115 

morality  is  more  particularly  adapted  to  the  genius  of 
Christianity  than  to  any  other  religion,2  it  is,  in  reality, 
neither  exclusively  Jewish,  patriarchal,  nor  Christian,  but 
cosmopolite;  and,  amongst  all  peoples  where  it  ever 
flourished,  it  inculcated  the  morality  of  their  peculiar 
religion,  and  selected  its  patrons,  or  parallels,  from  emi- 
nent men  of  their  own  tribe  and  kindred.  Thus,  for 
example,  amongst  the  Noachidae,  the  parallels  of  Masonry 
were  Noah  and  Abraham  ;  subsequently,  Moses  and  Solo- 
mon were  substituted ;  and  the  Christians  chose  the  two 
St.  Johns. 

"  'This,',  he  continued,  'was,  beyond  all  doubt,  the 
doctrine  promulgated  by  Grand  Masters  Sayer  and  Payne, 
and  their  associates  Desaguliers  and  Anderson,  at "  the 
revival,  and  established  as  a  permanent  and  unalterable 
landmark  of  the  Order.  Freemasonry  would  sink  into 
disrepute  if  it  were  degraded  into  a  religious  sect.  How 
it  could  enter  into  Bro.  Franco's  imagination  that  Free- 
masonry is  a  Jewish  institution,  I  am  at  a  loss  to  conjec- 
ture, for  the  Jews  never  practised  Masonry  themselves, 
or  encouraged  it  in  others ;  and  it  may  be  safely  conjec- 
tured that,  even  at  the  present  day,  there  are  not  a  dozen 
Jewish  Masons  in  England,  and  at  the  revival,  in  1717, 
there  was  not  one  in  all  the  world.  As  a  Christian,  and  an 
unworthy  member  of  the  Church,  I  believe  Jesus  to  be 
the  Son  of  God ;  and,  as  He  has  said  that  His  religion 
shall  ultimately  be  "one  fold  under  one  shepherd,"  I 
believe  that  Christianity,  like  the  rod  of  Moses,  will 
swallow  up  all  others ;  and  that  Jew  and  Gentile,  Greek 
and  barbarian,  bond  and  free,  will  embrace  this  universal 
system,  and  Christ  shall  be  all  in  all.  And  I  confess  I 

3  A  writer  of  the  last  century  expresses  himself  thus  on  this  import- 
ant subject.  "Masonry  received  its  finishing  touches,  its  grand 
completing  stroke  in  the  glorious  display  of  the  Christian  Revelation. 
Every  Christian  grace  enters  into  the  true  masonic  character.  The 
doctrines,  even  the  most  peculiar  and  sublime  doctrines  of  Christi- 
anity, as  some  of  these  have  been  termed,  are  regarded  as  holy,  and 
just,  and  true,  in  our  Lodges.  I  may  add  also  that  they  are  illus- 
trated in  such  a  manner  as  to  tend  to  the  settling  the  pious  mind  on 
the  firm  basis  of  a  consistent,  orthodox  belief.  It  is  our  principal 
endeavour  to  form  our  minds  into  the  sublimest  conceptions  of  the 
Divine  Being,  and  to  the  most  implicit  and  regular  obedience  of  all 
his  dispensations  and  precepts ;  and  we  are,  therefore,  sensible  that 
nothing  conduceth  so  well  to  the  accomplishment  of  these  important 
ends  as  the  sincere  profession  of  Christianity." 


116  THE    REVELATIONS   OP   A    SQUARE. 

was  not  prepared  to  hear  a  professing  Christian  cast  a 
reflection  on  his  Redeemer,  by  doubting  the  universality 
of  his  religion,  and  pronouncing  it  to  be  nothing  more 
than  a  sect.' 

"  Here  the  R.  W.  M.  resumed  his  seat,"  said  the 
Square,  "  and  Bro.  Dunckerley  rose,  and,  addressing  him- 
self to  the  chair,  observed  that  he  concurred  in  pronoun 
cing  the  general  construction  of  Masonry  to  be  cosmo- 
polite, and,  consequently,  democratic ;  yet  he  would 
submit  to  the  consideration  of  the  Lodge,  whether  the 
Lectures  which  we  use  are  not  essentially  Christian.5* 
He  conceived  that  the  exclusive  appropriation  of  Masonry 
to  the  Jews,  according  to  Bro.  Franco's  hypothesis, 
would  be  a  far'greater  error  than  making  it  altogether 
Christian;  because,  amongst  the  many  hundreds  of  Chris- 
tian Lodges,  which  are  spread  over  the  four  quarters  of 
the  globe,  it  is  very  doubtful  whether  there  be  a  single 
Jewish  Lodge  in  existence.  *  Besides,'  he  added,  *  what 
claim  can  the  Jews,  as  a  nation,  have  to  be  conservators 
of  an  institution  which  they  certainly  never  practised,  if 
we  except  a  few  Grand  Superintendents  and  the  Entered 
Apprentices,  during  the  seven  years  which  were  occupied 
in  preparing  the  materials  for,  and  building  the  Temple 
at  Jerusalem?  The  expert  Masons,  the  Fellowcrafts,  and 
Masters,  were  the  Dionysiacs,  i.  e.  Tyrians  and  Egyptians ; 
and  they  were  ranged  in  separate  Lodges,  under  Hiram 
Abiff,  Tito  Zadok,  and  their  fellows.  When  the  Temple 
and  Solomon's  other  buildings  were  finished,  I  cannot  nnd 
that  these  acromplished  men  held  any  further  communi- 
cation with  th^  people  of  Israel ;  but  spread  themselves 
abroad,  and  practised  the  art  amongst  other  nations,  till 
their  posterity  became  famous  as  the  Collegia  Fabrorum 
of  Rome,  from  whom  the  Freemasons  of  the  middle  ages, 
who  built  our  matchless  churches  and  cathedrals,  re- 
ceived it,  and  transmitted  it  faithfully  to  us.' 

3  The  writer  above  quoted  says  further:  "The  truly  enlightened, 
the  highly  exalted  Brethren,  must  perceive,  and  will  cheerfully  allow, 
that  the  further  we  proceed  in  our  masonic  course,  the  deeper  must  be 
our  veneration  for  the  Sacred  Scriptures;  and  in  proportion  as  we 
study  the  mysteries  which  it  contains,  so  shall  we  be  convinced  of  the 
importance  a,nd  beauty  of  the  grand  doctrines  of  the  Christian  system. 
With  these  doctrines  the  most  sublime  of  our  Symbols  hold  a  perfect 
unison;  and  I  may  add  that  the  latter  elucidate  the  former  with  a 
strong  and  pleasing  lustre." 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        117 

"  <  The  argument  appears  clear  and  decisive,'  said  the 
R.  W.  M.,  *  and  if  Bro.  Franco  does  not  see  it  in  the 
same  light,  perhaps  he  would  have  the  kindness  to  state 
his  peculiar  opinions,  as  I  am  curious  to  hear  what  can 
be  said  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  question.' 

"  Bro.  Franco,  being  thus  appealed  to,  put  the  objec- 
tion in  another  form.  'I  argue,'  said  he,  '  as  an  humble 
follower  of  Jesus,  who  was  born  a  Jew  and  died  a  Jew. 
During  his  lifetime,  he  publicly  acknowledged  that  Moses, 
and  the  prophets,  and  the  kings  of  Israel,  were  his  prede- 
cessors in  the  great  scheme  which  he  himself  accomplish- 
ed. But  while  I  believe  in  Jesus,  I  cannot  close  my  eyes 
to  the  fact  that  these  very  predecessors  were  the  original 
founders  of  Freemasonry,  and,  therefore,  though  adopted 
by  Christians,  it  has  no  claim  to  a  Christian  origination.' 

"  Dr.  Sequiera  then  rose,"  said  the  Square,  *  and  sub- 
mitted to  the  chair  that  the  argument  used  by  Bro.  Franco 
was  not  sustainable.  '  Christ,'  he  said,  '  had  no  prede- 
cessors. He  himself  asserted  that  he  existed  before  Abra- 
ham ;  and  our  great  patron  and  parallel,  St.  John,  says 
that  he  was  not  only  before  the  worlds,  but  that  he  was 
the  Maker  of  them.  It  is  evident,  therefore,  that  this 
Divine  Being  was  anterior  to  Solomon,  or  Moses,  or 
Abraham,  or  Noah,  or  Adam,  the  first  created  man.  I 
consider  it  an  open  question,'  he  continued,  *  whether 
the  origin  of  Masonry  may  be  dated  from  the  building  of 
Solomon's  Temple,  or  from  some  earlier  period  ;  but,  at 
all  events,  it  cannot  be  an  institution  exclusively  Jew- 
ish,— because  the  Mosaic  dispensation  itself  was  not  that 
universal  religion  which  it  was  predicted  should  ulti- 
mately "  cover  the  earth  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea." 
That  system  was  only  intended  by  the  Most  High  to  be 
temporary,  and  was  strictly  limited  to  the  period  when 
•'  the  sceptre  should  depart  from  Judah,"  and  the  Messiah 
be  commissioned  to  usher  in  a  more  perfect  dispensation, 
which,  in  God's  good  time,  should  supersede  every  other 
system,  and  bring  all  mankind  into  the  sanctuary  of 
Christ.' 

"  Bro.  Franco  explained,  and  expressed  his  curiosity  to 
know  with  what  propriety,  under  these  circumstances, 
Freemasonry  can  be  termed  a  universal  institution. 

u '  For  this  reason,'  said  Capt.  Smith,  *  because  it  is 
an  appendage  to  a  universal  religion,  of  which  those  of 


118         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

the  patriarchs  and  Jews  were  only  types  and  symbols,  and 
were  never  intended  to  be  final.  And  this  accounts  for 
the  introduction  into  our  lectures  of  all  the  chief  types 
of  Christ  contained  in  the  Sacred  Records.  For  instance, 
one  of  our  masonic  landmarks  refers  to  Moses  at  the 
Burning  Bush,  where  Jehovah  commanded  him  to  take 
the  shoes  from  off  his  feet,  because  the  place  where  he 
stood  was  holy.  From  this  spot  he  was  divinely  com- 
missioned to  deliver  the  children  of  Israel  from  their 
Egyptian  bondage.  And  when  thus  miraculously  libe- 
rated, they  were  led  by  the  self-same  Shekinah,  who  was 
no  other  than  the  Second  Person  in  the  Sacred  Trinity, 
whom  we  Masons  denominate  T.  G.  A.  O.  T.  U.' 

"  Bro.  Franco  would  not  confess  himself  conquered," 
said  the  Square,  "  but  continued  the  battle  with  great 
gallantry.  He  urged  that  a  single  historical  fact  intro- 
duced into  the  Lectures,  by  accident  probably,  could  be 
no  valid  proof  of  a  general  principle.  '  Bro.  I)unckerley 
has  asserted  that  the  Lectures  are,  as  a  whole,  if  I 
understood  him  correctly,  essentially  Christian.  That 
learned  Brother  will  not,  I  trust,  consider  me  intrusive, 
if  I  request  his  proofs  of  that  important  fact.' 

"  Bro.  Dunckerley  immediately  replied  that  nothing 
would  afford  him  greater  pleasure  than  to  convince  Bro. 
Franco  of  the  real  tendency  of  the  Lectures,  which,  he 
might  safely  say,  he  had  studied  with  the  utmost  atten- 
tion. '  The  prayer  which  Bro.  Franco  has  referred  to  is 
not  the  only  one  which  was  in  use  amongst  our  ancient 
Brethren ;  but  being  the  best  adapted  to  the  revised  or- 
der in  a  Protestant  country,  it  was  agreed  by  the  Grand 
Lodge  to  incorporate  it  into  the  ceremonial  as  an  unalter- 
able landmark,  in  preference  to  others,  which  were  more 
peculiarly  allied  to  the  Romish  ritual.' 

"  '  Perhaps,'  interposed  Bro.  Franco,  '  our  learned  Bro- 
ther would  favour  us  with  a  specimen  of  these  masonic 
prayers.' 

** '  With  great  pleasure,'  Bro.  Dunckerley  replied. 
4  One  ancient  masonic  invocation  was  in  this  form.  Pray 
we  to  God  Almigghty  and  to  hys  swete  moder  Mary.  Another 
runs  thus,  Jhcsu,  for  thyn  holy  name,  schulde  me  from  synne 
and  schame.  Others  ran  in  a  similar  strain.  It  will, 
therefore,  be  seen  that  the  most  comprehensive  formula 
was  adopted,  and  has  ever  since  been  retained  in  use. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        119 

The  Lectures  of  Masonry,'  continued  Bro.  Dunckerley 
*  are  full  of  landmarks  which  refer  to  the  subject  under 
discussion.  The  sacrifice  of  Isaac  on  Mount  Moriah  was 
an  indisputable  type  of  the  great  atonement ;  and  this 
constitutes  an  unalterable  landmark  to  consecrate  the 
floor  of  our  Lodges.  The  construction  of  the  Tabernacle 
in  the  wilderness  is  another  landmark  to  account  for  the 
masonic  custom  of  building  our  Lodges  due  East  and 
West ;  and  the  Tabernacle  and  its  appendages  were  all 
symbolical  of  corresponding  events  in  the  Christian  dis- 
pensation.4 The  H.  P.  was  a  type  of  Christ,  and  the 
blood  of  the  covenant  was  a  symbol  of  his  blood  shed 
upon  the  Cross.  Why  need  I  enumerate  those  other 
landmarks  of  Masonry  which  bear  an  undoubted  refer- 
ence to  Christ  and  his  religion,  when  you  are  all  as 
familiar  with  them  as  myself?  And  I  think,  when  Bro. 
Franco  considers  seriously  these  striking  coincidences,  he 
will  find  it  impossible  to  put  any  other  construction  on 
the  design  of  the  masonic  system,  than  as  a  development 
of  the  chief  truths  of  our  most  holy  faith,  leading  to  the 
inculcation  of  a  pure  morality,  and  the  duty  of  doing  to 
others  as  we  would  have  them  do  to  us.'5 

"  The  R.  W.  M.  then  rose  and  said,  '  I  appeal  to  the 

4  These  Lectures  had  some  odd  fancies  about  Aaron's  Rod,  which 
were  ultimately  transferred  to  a  separate  degree.     ;'  The  blossoming 
and  bearing  fruit  of  Aaron's  Rod  show  how  quickly  those  who  are 
called  by  grace  should  blossom  and  bear  heavenly  fruit,  and  become 
faithful  watchmen  and  seers  of  the  night.     This  fruit  points  to  Christ 
our  Saviour,  of  whom  Moses  was  a  type,  he  being  the  shepherd  and 
bishop  of  our  souls ;  leading  his  children  like  tender  buds  growing  up 
in  spiritual  and  Divine  knowledge  ;  sweet  blossoms  of  that  spiritual 
Rod  expanding  with  the  fragrance  of  grace.     The  ripe  fruit  referred 
to  the  able  ministers  of  the  New  and  Old  Testaments,  whose  office  it 
is  to  withstand  gainsayers.     Their  shells  are  hard,  but  their  kernels 
abound  in  sweet  doctrine,  refreshing  to  the  soul,  the  heavenly  fruit  of 
righteousness,  provoking  to  obedience  and  love.     Again,  as  those 
almond  nuts  did  not  perish,  but  were  continually  on  the  Rod,  and  laid 
up  in  the  Ark  of  the  Covenant,  so  neither  shall  the  Word  of  the  Gos- 
pel, or  the  work  of  Grace  in  the  hearts  of  the  faithful,  wither  away  ; 
but  every  branch  in   Christ,  shall  not  only,  like  Aaron's  Rod,  bring 
forth  fruit,  but  have  life  more  abundantly." 

5  A  masonic  writer  of  this  period  makes  the  following  judicious 
remark  :  "  We  know,  and  dare  venture  to  declare  to  all  the  world, 
that  no  man  can  be  a  consistent  Freemason  who  denies  a  Divine  reve- 
lation ;  even  that  revelation  which  is  professed  by  Christian  believers, 
and  in  the  state  of  immortality  which  that  revelation  holds  out  to  us." 
— (Freemasons'  Mag.,  vol.  i.,  p.  384.) 


120        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

Brethren  present,  whether  these  are  not  the  received 
doctrines  of  the  Order,  as  they  are  inculcated  in  all  our 
Lodges.' 

"  The  Brethren  responded  unanimously  by  the  usual 
token  of  concurrence,  and  Bro.  Franco  found  himself  in 
a  minority  of  one. 

ffl  When  Dr.  Dodd  retired  from  office,  at  Christmas, 
1775,  he  had  created  amongst  the  Brethren  a  great  vene- 
ration for  his  untiring  zeal  in  promoting  the  general  inter- 
ests of  the  Craft ;  for  his  liberality  in  maintaining  the 
hospitality  of  the  Lodgje,  and  for  those  social  qualities 
which  chastened  and  enlivened  the  banquet.  He  had 
restored  the  Lodge  to  its  primitive  status,  and  had  earned 
golden  opinions  from  every  class  of  the  Brethren  ;  and, 
like  a  successful  gladiator,  he  was  invested  with  the  Rudis 
amidst  the  acclamations  of  his  fellows. 

"  In  the  year  1776,"  continued  my  abusing  compan- 
ion, "  I  had  the  gratification,  under  a  new  Master,  of 
witnessing  the  most  magnificent  spectacle  it  is  possible 
to  conceive ;  for  it  realized  the  gorgeous  description  of 
the  Arabian  Tales.  I  refer  to  the  solemn  dedication  of 
Freemasons'  Hall.6  The  numerous  band  of  Grand  and 


6  As  it  may  happen  that  many  Brethren  do  not  even  know  when 
Freemasons'  Hall  became  the  place  of  meeting  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  England,  it  may  be  satisfactory  to  them  to  be  furnished  with  the 
following  document,  recorded  in  Noorthouck's  Consts.,  p.  312.  Du- 
ring the  ceremony  of  laying  the  Foundation  Stone,  the  Grand  Secre- 
tary mad  the  inscription  on  a  plate,  which  was  then  deposited  in  the 
stone  as  follows  : — 

"  Anno  regni  Georgii  tertii  quindecimo 
Salutis  humanae  MDCCLXXV,  meiisis  Maii  die 

Primo 
Hunc  primum  lapidem, 

Aulae  Latomorum, 
(Anglice,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons) 

Posuerit 
Honoratissimus  Rob.  Edv.  dom.  Petre,  baro 

Petre,  de  Writtle, 
Summus  Latomorum  Anglise  Magister; 

Assidentibus 

Viro  ornatissimo  Rowlando  Holt,  Armigero, 
Summi  Magistri  dejputato  ; 

Viris  ornatissimis 

Joh.  Hatch  et  Hen.  Dagge, 

Summis  Gubernatoribus  ; 

Plenoque  coram  Fratrum  concursu  ; 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        121 

Past  Grand  officers,  in  full  masonic  costume  ;  the  galle- 
ries crowded  with  ladies  of  rank  and  fashion,  presenting 
the  appearance  of  a  magnificent  parterre  decorated  with 
a  galaxy  of  exotic  flowers  dazzling  to  the  eye  ;  a  hundred 
musicians,  vocal  and  instrumental,  placed  in  the  orches- 
tra ;  the  Masters  and  Wardens  of  private  Lodges  arrang- 
ed, like  a  holy  Sanhedrim,  in  order  of  precedency  upon 
the  benches  on  the  floor;  added  to,  the  splendid  and 
tasteful  decorations  in  the  Hall  itself,  —  produced  a  coup 
d'ccil  which  exceeds  my  powers  of  rhetoric  to  describe. 

"  It  was  a  superb  sight  to  behold  the  Brethren,  invest- 
ed with  the  badges  and  appendages  suitable  to  their  rank, 
entering  the  hall  from  the  committee-room,  and  proceed- 
ing to  the  throne  of  Solomon,  compass  the  room  three 
several  times  to  sweet  and  heavenly  music,  amidst  the 
waving  of  handkerchiefs  and  scarfs  from  the  ladies  in  the 
galleries.  The  Grand  Tyler  led  the  way  ;  then  followed 
the  Lodge,  covered  with  white  satin,  borne  by  four  serv- 
ing Brethren  ;  after  which,  the  corn,  wine  and  oil,  in 
covered  vessels  of  gold  and  silver,  carried  by  Master 
Masons  of  good  standing  in  the  Order,  followed  by  the 
members  of  the  Hall  Committee,  and  the  Brethren  of 
the  Alfred  Lodge,  Oxford,  two  arid  two,  in  their  academi- 
cal dress,  surmounted  by  the  insignia  of  their  several 
offices. 

"  But  it  will  be  an  unnecessary  waste  of  time,"  the. 
Square  interjected,  parenthetically,  "  to  describe  the 
order  of  a  procession  which  must  be  perfectly  familiar  to 
you.  When  the  preliminary  ceremonies  were  completed, 
and  the  Lodge  placed  in  the  centre  of  the  Hall  ;  when 
the  three  lesser  lights,  with  the  gold  and  silver  pitchers 

Quo  etiam  tempore  regum,  principiumque 

Virorum  favore, 
Studioque  sustentatum.  —  Maximos  per 

Europain 

Honores  occupaverat 

Nomen  Latomorum, 

Cui  insuper  nomini  summum  AngliaB 

Conventurn  prseesse  fecerat 

Universa  Fratrum  per  orbem  multitude, 

E  ccelo  descendit. 


The  dedication  of  this  building  took  place  on  the  23rd  of  May 
1776. 


129  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

containing  the  elements  of  consecration,  were  placed 
thereon  :  when  the  three  great  lights  on  a  velvet  cushion 
were  deposited  upon  the  pedestal  in  solemn  silence,  then 
did  the  heart  of  every  Brother  present  rebound,  like  the 
war-horse  at  the  thrilling  blast  of  the  trumpet,  on  hear- 
ing the  simultaneous  burst  of  harmony  from  the  orches- 
tra, which  introduced  the  opening  symphonies  of  the 
foundation-stone  anthem, 

1  To  heaven's  High  Architect,  all  praise,'  &c. 

which  was  sung  by  Mr.  Hudson,  of  St.  Paul's  Cathedral, 
the  choruses  being  filled  up  by  the  whole  band. 

"  The  ceremony,  I  assure  you,  sir,  was  very  imposing; 
and  although  the  eye  was  satiated  with  the  gorgeous 
display,  and  the  ear  delighted  by  the  sweet  influence  of 
music,  yet  the  heart  of  every  person  in  this  vast  assem- 
bly was  carried  away  by  the  oration  of  the  Grand  Chap- 
lain, our  late  R.  W.  M.  Dr.  Dodd,  whose  matchless 
eloquence  of  language  and  grace  of  delivery  riveted  the 
attention  of  his  audience.  And  when  he  pronounced 
any  particularly  fine  passage,  with  all  the  energy  of 
enthusiasm,  the  acclamations  were  unbounded ;  and  the 
conclusion  of  the  address,  after  a  deep  silence  of  a  few 
seconds,  was  hailed  with  such  peals  of  enthusiastic 
cheering,  as  have  scarcely  ever  since  been  heard  within 
the  walls  of  Freemasons'  Hall.  The  triumph  of  the 
orator  was  complete.7 

"  It  is  a  day  to  be  remembered,  not  only  on  account  ot 
the  real  interest  attached  to  the  ceremony,  but  from  the 
importance  of  its  results;  for  it  constitutes  the  first 
onward  step  that  had  been  taken  since  the  revival  to 
place  Freemasonry  on  a  permanent  footing,  as  one  of 
those  beneficial  institutions  which  reflect  so  much  glory 
on  the  island  of  Great  Britain,  and  mark  its  inhabitants 
as  a  people  celebrated  for  works  of  munificent  benevo- 
lence and  unostentatious  charity. 

"  This  was  the  closing  scene  in  the  popularity  of  the 
unfortunate  Dr.  Dodd.  But  as  the  above  oration  will 
convey  his  name  as  a  Mason  to  all  posterity,  when  the 
evidences  of  his  excellence  as  the  Master  of  a  Lodge 

f  This  Oration  may  be  found  in  the  "  Golden  Remains.0  vol.  UM  p. 


THE    REVELATIONS    OP    A    SQUARE.  123 

would  be  buried  in  oblivion  if  I  had  not  thus  placed  it 
on  permanent  record  by  revealing  the  particulars  to  you, 
[  will  briefly  fill  up,  for  your  satisfaction,  the  general 
outline  of  his  history  ;  for  I  remember  him  well,  and  he 
is  entitled  to  pity  and  commiseration.. 

"His  career,  though  brilliant,  was  brief;  for  an  insa- 
tiable craving  for  popularity  was  his  rock  ahead,  and 
embittered  his  otherwise  unstained  course.  To  this 
unworthy  object  he  sacrificed  talents  of  a  high  order, 
fame,  honour,  reputation,  and  character.  Dum  vivimus, 
vivamus,  was  his  motto,  and  in  the  auction  of  life,  he 
bid  freely  for  a  short  and  merry  lot.  The  admiration 
which  his  eloquence  commanded  was  amply  sufficient  to 
buoy  him  up  with  bright  anticipations  of  still  higher 
preferment,  arid  he  might  have  succeeded  to  the  full 
extent  of  his  wrishes,  had  he  possessed  a  common  share 
of  prudence.  But  he  was  too  thoughtless,  open-hearted, 
and  impatient  to  wait  the  slow  and  steady  progress  of 
events.  Public  applause  was  the  idol  before  which  he 
bowed  the  knee — riches  and  honours  were  the  objects  of 
his  ambition ;  and,  as  might  be  expected,  his  deities  were 
unpropitious  ;  they  deserted  him  in  his  need,  and  disgrace 
and  death  followed  in  their  train. 

"  He  was  fond  of  expensive  amusements,"  continued 
the  Square,  "  too  fond,  alas!  for  his  peace  of  mind,  or  for 
the  continuance  of  his  popularity;  and  he  entered  more 
freely  than  became  his  cloth  into  the  licentious  pleasures 
of  the  times,  and  lived  in  a  lavish  profusion,  which  his 
limited  means  did  not  justify.  Thus,  when  his-creditors 
were  clamorous  for  a  settlement  of  accounts  which  he 
did  not  possess  the  means  of  liquidating,  he  became 
restless  and  morose,  and  resorted  to  unlawful  practices 
for  the  purpose  of  recruiting  his  exhausted  finances. 

"  The  fact  is,  he  mistook  his  vocation.  If  a  tailor 
were  to  undertake  the  building  of  a  church,  or  a  stone- 
mason the  construction  of  a  court  dress,  they  would  both 
undoubtedly  fail,  and  subject  themselves  to  derision  and 
contempt.  Neither  ought  a  clergyman  to  meddle  in 
secular  affairs,  and  particularly  with  the  abstruse  and 
dangerous  practice  of  dabbling  in  bills  and  acceptances. 
Our  unhappy  Brother  was  too  thoughtless  to  foresee  the 
probable  consequences  of  such  a  course ;  and  in  an  evil 
hour,  to  the  universal  sorrow  and  regret  of  all  his  friends, 


124         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

he  forged  a  cheque  on  Lord  Chesterfield,  his  former 
pupil,  for  ,£4,200,  in  the  hope  of  being  able  to  redeem  it 
before  it  became  due.  This  hope  failed  him — his  Lord- 
ship was  inexorable,  and  poor  Dodd  being  capitally 
convicted  of  the  forgery,  was  deprived  of  his  chaplaincy, 
and  expelled  by  the  Grand  Lodge ;  and,  notwithstanding 
the  most  energetic  exertions  were  used  for  a  commuta- 
tion of  the  sentence,  he  suffered  the  extreme  penalty  of 
the  law."8 

8  The  celebrated  Dr.  Johnson  was  one  of  his  friends,  and  he  has 
left  behind  him  the  following  testimony  to  his  merits  as  a  Christian 
divine.  "Of  his  public  ministry  the  means  of  judging  were  suffi- 
ciently attainable.  Ho  must  be  allowed  to  preach  well,  whose  sermonfc 
strike  his  audience  with  forcible  conviction.  Of  his  life,  those  who 
thought  it  consistent  with  his  doctrines,  did  not  originally  form  false 
notions.  He  was  at  first  what  he  endeavoured  to  make  others ;  but 
the  world  broke  down  his  resolution,  and  he  in  time  ceased  to  exem- 
plify his  own  instructions.  Let  those  who  are  tempted  to  his  faults 
tremble  at  his  punishment ;  and  those  whom  he  impressed  from  the 
pulpit  with  religious  sentiments,  endeavour  to  confirm  them  by  con- 
sidering the  regret  and  self-abhorrence  with  which  he  reviewed,  in 
prison,  his  deviations  from  rectitude." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

DISPUTES. WILLIAM    PRESTOJ*. 

1777—1779. 


"  Arma  virumque  cano." — VIRGIL. 

44  Pardon  thine  enemy,  and  have  manliness  of  heart  enough  to  do 
him  good.  This  generous  sacrifice,  one  of  the  most  exalted  precepts 
of  religion,  will  awaken  in  thee  the  most  benignant  sensations ;  thou 
wilt  represent  the  image  of  the  Deity,  who  with  adorable  kindness 
pardons  the  errors  of  men,  disregarding  their  ingratitude,  and  pours 
down  his  blessings  upon  them.  Always  recollect  that  this  is  the 
most  glorious  victory  thy  reason  can  obtain  over  the  brutal  instincts ; 
and  thy  motto'  be — '  A  Mason  forgets  only  injuries,  never  benefits.'  " 
— MASONIC  EXHORTATIONS  :  From  the  German. 

"  I  object  to  you  strongly  on  the  score  of  your  processions ;  and  I 
object  to  you  still  more  decidedly  on  the  score  of  your  secret.  You 
are  a  secret  society,  held  together  by  a  stringent  oath ;  now  I  hold 
that  wherever  there  is  mystery  there  is  iniquity." — The  Anti- Masonic 
Vicar,  in  "  Stray  Leaves." 

IN  the  earliest  part  of  my  existence,"  the  Square 
continued,  "  I  heard  the  venerable  and  excellent  Bishop 
Hall  preach,  and  "he  said,  very  strongly,  in  his  usual 
antithetical  manner,  *  One  man  may  kindle  a  fire  which 
all  the  world  cannot  quench.  One  plague-sore  may 
infect  a  whole  kingdom.  One  artful  partisan  will  do 
more  to  seduce  others  into  evil,  than  twenty  just  and 
upright  men.' 

"  This  truth  will  be  amply  verified  in  the  following 
.Revelations  :  for  I  have  now  before  me  the  irksome  task 
of  communicating  the  particulars  of  an  unhappy  dispute 
between  our  oldest  Lodge  and  the  Grand  Lodge  itself. 
The  recollection  of  it  is  by  no  means  pleasing;  but  as  a 
most  indefatigable  and  successful  Mason,  whose  name 
will  descend  with  honour  to  posterity,  was  a  party  in 
the  quarrel,  it  must  not  be  suppressed,  for  every  event  in 
the  career  of  such  a  man  cannot  fail  to  be  interesting  to 
the  Fraternity. 


126        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

"  As  a  moveable  Jewel,"  continued  the  Square,  "  I 
became  the  property  of  Bro.  Preston,  in  the  year  of  poor 
Doctor  Dodd's  misfortune.  He  had  served  the  office  of 
R.  W.  M.  of  the  Lodge  of  Antiquity,  in  the  preceding 
year,  when  he  published  a  new  edition  of  his  celebrated 
Illustrations  of  Masonry.1  I  assure  you,  sir,  Bro.  Pres- 
ton was  no  common  man.  He  was  a  Scotchman  by  birth, 
and  came  to  London  in  the  year  1760,  soon  after  which 
he  was  initiated  in  a  Lodge,  meeting  at  the  White  Hart, 
Strand,  under 'the  Constitution  of  the  Ancients,  as  they 
denominated  themselves,  although  in  reality,  their  system 
had  not  been  in  existence  more  than  thirty  years,  and 
arose,  as  I  have  already  intimated,  out  of  a  schism  in, 
and  secession  from,  the  Grand  Lodge  of  England.  There, 
however,  Bro.  Preston  first  saw  the  light.  But,  being 
doubtful,  on  their  own  showing,  whether  the  Brethren  with 
whom  he  was  associated  were  not  acting  in  defiance  of 
legitimate  authority,  he  left  them  and  procured  admission 
into  a  regular  Constitutional  Lodge,  at  the  Talbot, 
Strand.2  From  this  time  he  devoted  his  attention  to  the 


1  "Illustrations   of    Masonry,   by   William  Preston."      London, 
Williams,    1772.     Second   Edition,   London,    Wilkie,   1775.     Third 
Edition,  translated  into  German  by  Meyer,  Stendal,  Frauzen,  and 
Grosse,  1776.     Fourth  Edition,   1780.     A  new  Edition,  with  addi- 
tions, London,  Wilkie,  1781.     A  new  Edition,  London,  Wilkie,  1788. 
Another  Edition,    London,    1792.      Ninth  Edition,  London,    1799. 
Tenth  Edition,  London,  Wilkie,  1801.     "Illustrations  of  Masonry, 
selected  from  Preston,  Hutchinson,  and  others ;  to  which  is  prefixed 
the   Funeral  Service,  and  a  variety  of  other  Masonic  Information. 
By  John  Cole."     London,  Jordan,  1801.     The  first  American  Edi- 
tion,   Alexandria   and   Fredricksberg,    Coltorn   and   Stewart,    1804. 
Twelfth  Edition,  London,  Wilkie,  1812.     "  Illustrations  of  Masonry, 
by  the  late  W.  Preston  ;  with  Additions  and  Corrections,  by  Stephen 
Jones,   P.  M.   of  the  Lodge  of   Antiquity."      Thirteenth  Edition. 
London,  Whitaker,  1821.     Fourteenth  Edition,  with  additions  to  the 
present  time,  and  copious  Notes,  by  the  Rev.  G.  Oliver,  D.  D.     Lon- 
don, Whitaker,   Treacher  and  Co.,  1829.     Fifteenth  Edition,  Lon- 
don, Whitaker,  1840. 

2  The  account  of  this  transaction  given  by  his  biographer,  Brother 
Stephen  Jones,  is  as  follows: — "Soon  after  his  arrival  in  London,  a 
number  of  Brethren  from  Edinburgh  resolved  to  institute  a  Freema- 
son's Lodge  in  the  city,  Under  the  sanction  of  a  Constitution  from 
Scotland ;  but  not  having  succeeded  in  their  application,  they  were 
recommended  by  the  Grand  Lodge  at  Edinburgh  to  the  Ancient 
Grand  Lodge  in  London,  which  immediately  granted  them  a  dispen- 
sation to  form  a  Lodge,  and  to  make  Masons.     They  accordingly  met 
at  the  White  Hart,  in  the  Strand,  and  Mr.  Preston  was  the  second 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         127 

principles  of  the  Craft  as  enunciated  in  its  Lectures,  and 
succeeded  in  effecting  a  beneficial  improvement  in  the 
details  of  the  Order. 

"  It  will  be  worth  our  while  to  retrograde  a  little  in 
point  of  time,  for  the  purpose  of  recording  the  progress 
of  his  exertions. 

"  At  this  period  a  literary  taste  was  beginning  to  dis- 
play itself  amongst  all  classes  of  society,  and  Bro.  Preston 
thought  that  if  Freemasonry  was  to  preserve  its  stand- 
ing it  must  spread  its  roots  and  expand  its  branches  deep 
and  wide,  for  the  purpose  of  extending  its  capabilities  to 
meet  the  exigencies  of  the  times.  To  promote  this  salu- 
tary end,  and  to  rescue  the  Order  from  the  charge  of 
frivolity,  he  gave  up  a  considerable  portion  of  his  leisure 
to  a  revision  of  the  Lectures. 

"He  commenced  his  design  by  holding  private  meet- 
ings with  his  friends  once  or  twice  a  week  to  effect  their 
improvement,  on  which  occasion  all  the  existing  rituals 
were  discussed  with  every  possible  care  and  attention, 
until,  by  the  assistance  of  some  zealous  friends,  whom  he 
had  deputed  to  visit  a  variety  of  Lodges  in  different 
parts  of  the  kingdom,  for  the  purpose  of  gaining  in- 
formation, he  succeeded  in  arranging  and  digesting  the 
whole  of  the  First  Lecture.  To  establish  its  validity, 
he  resolved  to  submit  the  progress  he  had  made  to  the 
judgment  of  the  Society  at  large,  arid  on  Thursday, 
Slay  21st,  1772,  he  gave  a  banquet,  at  his  own  expense, 
at  the  Crown  and  Anchor  Tavern,  in  the  Strand,  which 
was  honoured  with  the  presence  of  the  Grand  Officers, 
and  many  other  eminent  and  respectable  Brethren. 

"  At  his  request,  the  Brethren  assembled  early,"  said 
the  Square,  "  and  Bro.  Preston  opened  the  business  of 
the  meeting  in  words  to  this  effect : 

"'Brethren  and  Friends, — 1  should  scarcely  have 
taken  the  liberty  of  soliciting  your  attendance  here  this 

person  initiated  under  that  dispensation.  The  Lodge  was  soon  after 
regularly  constituted  by  the  officers  of  the  Ancient  Grand  Lodge  in 
person.  ...  At  length  Mr.  Preston,  and  some  others  of  the  mem- 
bers, having  joined  a  Lodge  under  the  regular  English  Constitution, 
at  the  Talbot  Inn,  in  the  Strand,  they  prevailed  on  the  rest  of  the 
Lodge  to  petition  for  a  Constitution.  Lord  Blaney,  at  that  time 
Grand  Master,  readily  acquiesced  with  the  desire  of  the  Brethren, 
and  the  Lodge  was  soon  after  constituted  a  second  time  in  ample 
form  by  the  name  of  the  Caledonian  Lodge/' 


128        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

day,  had  I  not  conceived  that  the  general  interests  of 
Masonry  might  reap  essential  advantages  from  a  convo- 
cation of  the  chief  Members  of  the  Craft,  to  consider 
and  deliberate  OH  a  measure  which  could  not  take  the 
initiative  in  Grand  Lodge.  I  allude  to  a. revision  of  our 
Lodge  Lectures,  which,  I  think,  ought  to  keep  pace 
with  the  gradual  advancement  of  other  branches  of  Sci- 
ence, that  the  Fraternity  may  be  furnished  with  an 
adequate  motive  for  the  exercise  of  their  assiduity  and 
zeal.  Freemasonry  is  the  friend  of  Industry,  and  being 
rather  chary  of  her  favours,  will  not  dispense  them  to 
the  indolent  or  indifferent  Brother.  If  lie  be  either  too 
proud  to  learn,  or  too  listless  to  attend  to  the  general 
and  particular  business  of  the  Lodge,  there  is  good  reason 
to  believe  that  he  will  never  be  a  bright  and  intelligent 
Mason.  It  would  have  been  better  not  to  have  sought 
admission  amongst  us,  than  by  a  want  of  diligence  to 
have  rendered  his  initiation  unproductive  of  solid  advan- 
tages. Whatever  is  worth  doing  at  all,  is  worth  doing 
well;  and  no  one  can  ever  attain  excellence  in  any  art, 
human  or  divine,  without  an  anxious  development  of  the 
principles  on  which  it  is  founded.  His  heart  must  be  in 
the  work,  or  he  will  never  succeed ;  and  Masonry  will 
yield  neither  bud,  nor  blossom,  nor  fruit, — he  will  neither 
understand  its  objects,  nor  participate  in  its  advantages. 
With  the  name  of  a  Mason,  he  will  remain  ignorant  of 
its  secrets,  and  incapable  of  estimating  their  value. 

"  *  This  is  one  chief  reason  why  so  many  nominal 
Brethren  exist  amongst  us,  who  know  no  more  of  the 
aim  and  end  of  the  Institution  than  if  they  had  never 
seen  the  light.  The  bright  rays  of  truth  and  wisdom 
which  illuminated  their  initiation,  have  been  quenched 
in  darkness,  and  they  have  sacrificed,  at  the  unholy 
shrine  of  indolence,  such  advantages  as  no  other  Institu- 
tion has  the  power  of  offering  for  their  acceptance.3 

8  What  are  these  advantages  ?  Ail  American  writer,  Bro.  G.  F. 
Yates,  thus  explains  them : — "  In  the  most  remote  times,  even  as  in 
the  present,  the  preservation  of  the  arts  and  sciences  was  not  the 
exclusive  object  of  Freemasonry.  The  doctrines  of  the  unity  of  the 
Godhead,  the  knowledge  of  the  true  God,  life  and  immortality  be- 
yond the  grave,  and  of-  universal  love,  were  taught  in  our  mysteries ; 
that  love  which  is  real  Ctiristianity ,  has  ever  been,  and  is  now,  tlie  grand 
object  of  our  Order  in  all  its  departments." 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.  129 

"  '  This  vapid  and  unsatisfactory  state  of  things,  Bro. 
Preston  continued,"  said  the  Square,  "  '  if  I  am  not  mis- 
taken, would  be  greatly  ameliorated  by  a  reconstruction 
of  the  Lectures,  and  by  investing  them  with  new  charms, 
more  interesting  to  the  imagination  arid  more  pleasing 
to  the  mind.  Presuming,  therefore,  that  the  object  of 
the  numerous  and  talented  band  of  Brethren,  who  have 
done  me  the  honour  to  meet  me  this  day  for  the  pur- 
pose of  mutual  instruction,  is  a  desire  of  improving  the 
mind  and  enlightening  the  understanding,  it  becomes 
my  duty  to  explain  the  motives  which  have  induced  me 
to  take  the  liberty  of  soliciting  your  attendance  at  my 
School  of  Instruction,  and  to  offer  some  plain  suggestions 
by  which  a  knowledge  of  the  Science  may  be  attained. 

"  *  The  first  and  most  indispensable  requisite  for  be- 
coming a  good  Mason,  is  regularity  of  attendance  on  the 
duties  of  the  Lodge,  which  will  open  to  the  view,  like 
the  gradual  approach  of  light  to  cheer  and  invigorate 
the  earth  on  the  refulgent  morning  of  a  summer's  day, 
an  increasing  development  of  the  bright  rays  of  science, 
till  the  splendour  of  truth  irradiates  the  mind,  as  the 
bursting  forth  of  the  orb  of  day  spreads  its  glories  over 
the  face  of  heaven.  The  instruction  of  the  Lodge  is 
delivered  orally  ;  and  as,  therefore,  it  can  only  be  secured 
by  hearing,  every  Lecture  neglected  by  absence  or  inat- 
tention strikes  a  link  from  the  chain  of  knowledge. 
Besides,  punctuality  will  receive  an  additional  reward  by 
infusing  that  degree  of  ardour  which  is  necessary  for  the 
attainment  of  excellence.  The  erection  of  a  magnificent 
building  is  not  the  work  of  a  day ;  the  sacrifice  of  time 
and  labour,  the  exercise  of  wisdom,  strength,  and  beauty, 
patience,  and  consideration,  are  necessary  to  complete 
the  edifice  in  all  its  fair  proportions.  So  in  Masonry,  no 
one  can  store  his  mind  with  scientific  knowledge  by  any 
other  process  than  the  just  application  of  patient  indus- 
try, untiring  assiduity,  and  a  powerful  inclination  to 
excel ;  for  there  is  no  royal  road  to  science.  The  more 
frequently  a  Brother  appears  in  the  Lodge  to  witness  its 
proceedings,  the  greater  will  be  his  love  of  Masonry, 
until  zeal  will  ripen  into  enthusiasm,  and  prepare  him 
for  promotion  to  the  highest  honours  of  the  Craft.  Every 
Free  and  Accepted  Mason,  therefore,  who  desires  to 
understand  the  elementary  principles  of  the  Order,  should 


130        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

be  earnest  in  acquiring  a  competent  knowledge  of  the 
Lectures.  As  in  all  other  sciences,  this  can  only  be 
accomplished  by  a  gradual  process.  He  must  take  care 
not  to  begin  where  he  ought  to  finish,  for  many  excel- 
lent and  well-intentioned  Brethren  have  failed  by  falling 
into  this  fatal,  though  very  common  error.' 

"  Bro.  Preston,"  said  the  Square.  "  then  entered  on 
an  explanation  of  the  process  which  he  had  adopted  in 
collecting  information,  and  arranging  the  various  modes 
of  working  used  in  different  parts  of  the  kingdom,  into  a 
connected  and  intelligible  form;4  and  stated  that  his 
present  object  was  to  submit  to  the  judgment  of  the 
meeting  the  result  of  his  labours,  that  he  might  have 
the  benefit  of  their  united  opinion  on  the  details  of  the 
First  Lecture,  which  was  all  that  he  had  hitherto  been 
able  to  accomplish. 

"  'I  need  not  inform  you,'  he  continued,  'that  the 
Degrees  of  Masonry  are  progressive.  I  have  constructed 
the  series  on  such  a  principle,  that  the  preliminary 
clauses  of  the  First  Lecture  are  simply  elementary. 
They  commence  by  a  process  which  is  calculated  to 
fix  certain  leading  principles  indelibly  in  the  mind,  as 
stepping  stones  to  conduct  the  student  gradually  to  a 
perfect  understanding  of  that  which  is  to  follow.  My 
first  object  was  a  revival  of  the  Tests.  These  I  "have 
distributed  into  three  sections,  each  containing  seven 
questions.  It  is  true,  they  convey  intrinsically  no  great 
amount  of  information,  but  they  lead  to  matters  of  more 
importance,  which  would  be  imperfectly  understood 
without  their  assistance.' 

4  "  Wherever  instruction  could  be  acquired."  his  biographer  says, 
"  thither  he  directed  his  course,  and,  with  the  advantage  of  a  reten- 
tive memory,  and  an  extensive  masonic  connection,  added  to  diligent 
literary  research,  he  so  far  succeeded  in  his  purpose  as  to  become  a 
competent  master  of  the  subject.  To  increase  the  knowledge  he 
had  acquired,  he  solicited  the  company  and  conversation,  of  the  most 
experienced  Masons  from  foreign  countries ;  and,  in  the  course  of  a 
literary  correspondence  with  the  Fraternity  at  home  and  abroad, 
made  such  progress  in  the  mysteries  of  the  Art,  as  to  become  very 
useful  in  the  connections  he  had  formed.  He  has  frequently  been 
heard  to  say,  that  in  the  ardour  of  his  inquiries,  he  has  explored  the 
abodes  of  poverty  and  wretchedness,  and,  where  it  might  have  been 
least  expected,  acquired  very  valuable  scraps  of  information.  The 
poor  Brother,  in  return,  we  are  assured,  had  no  cause  to  think  his 
time  or  talents  ill  bestowed." 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        131 

"Here,"  said  the  Square,  "  Bro.  Preston  repeated  the 
formula,5  and  then  proceeded: — 

"  4A  competent  knowledge  of  some  such  series  of 
examination  questions,  adapted  to  each  of  the  Three 
Degrees,  constitutes  an  indispensable  qualification  for 
the  progress  of  the  candidate  from  one  step  to  another; 
and  I  attach  so  much  value  to  their  acquirement,  that,  as 
the  Master  of  a  Lodge,  I  never,  on  any  occasion,  pass  the 
candidate  to  a  superior  Degree  until  he  has  displayed  a 
correct  knowledge  of  these  certain  tests  of  his  under- 
standing and  zeal.  And  as  every  Brother  is  thus  neces- 
sarily acquainted  with  them,  the  candidate  will  find 
many  opportunities  of  receiving  instruction  in  private 
before  he  appears  in  the  Lodge,  to  assert  his  claim  to 
another  Degree. 

"  '  After  I  had  arranged  these  Tests  to  my  satisfaction,' 
Bro.  Preston  continued,  *  I  then  girded  up  my  loins  to  the 
still  more  arduous  task  of  remodelling  the  whole  Lecture, 
with  a  careful  eye  to  the  ancient  landmarks.  This  was  a 
work  of  time  and  patient  industry.  And  when  I  had 
completed  a  digest  of  the  entire  Lecture,  I  found  that  it 
had  extended  to  a  much  greater  length  than  I  anticipated; 
and,  therefore,  in  order  to  facilitate  its  acquirement,  it 
became  necessary  to  re-arrange  the  whole  into  con- 
venient portions,  not  only  to  assist  the  memory,  but  also 
for  the  accommodation  of  Masters  of  Lodges,  who,  when 
pressed  for  time,  might  not  be  able  to  deliver  the  entire 
Lecture. 

"  '  For  this  purpose  I  have  divided  it  into  sections,  and 
subdivided  each  section  into  clauses,  a  disposition  which 
has  simplified  the  subject,  and  reduced  it  into  a  compass 
so  narrow  and  easily  accessible,  that  the  application  of  a 
very  small  portion  of  industry  and  zeal  will  suffice  for 
mastering  a  competent  knowledge  of  this  Lecture, 
although  it  embodies  the  chief  mysteries  of  the  Craft, 
together  with  its  reference  to  science  and  morals. 

"  '  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying,  that  any  Brother 
who  shall  persevere  for  a  few  months  in  studying  this 
ritual,  and  shall  faithfully  apply  it  to  its  legitimate  pur- 
pose, will  become  an  ardent  admirer  of  the  Science,  and 
reap  essential  benefits  from  its  practice ;  while,  on  the 

5  The  questions  may  be  found  on  page  77,  but  the  answers  cannot 
be  committed  to  print. 


132         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

other  hand,  if  any  Brother  shall  rest  contented  with  a 
knowledge  of  the  few  conventional  signs  and  tokens  by 
which  we  are  distinguished  as  a  body  of  men  set  apart 
from  the  rest  of  mankind  for  the  purposes  of  benevo- 
lence and  charity,  and  seek  no  farther  privilege  than  the 
right  of  sharing  in  our  convivialities,  his  reward  will  be 
carnal  instead  of  intellectual,  and  he  will  have  nothing 
but  sensual  pleasure  for  his  pains,  which  may  be  pur- 
chased in  other  societies  at  half  the  expense,  and  with- 
out the  trouble  and  formality  of  masonic  initiation.' 

"  At  this  point,"  the  Square  continued,  "  Bro.  Preston 
deliberately  repeated  the  entire  Lecture  from  end  to  end, 
amidst  the  reiterated  applauses  of  the  Brethren.  Arid 
the  commendations  were  not  unmerited,  as  every  one 
who  is  acquainted  with  the  formula  will  readily  admit. 
Numerous  explanations  were  required  by  Brothers  Dillon, 
D.  G.  M.,  Sir  Peter  Parker,  S.  G.  W.,  Rowland  Berkeley, 
G.  Trea.,  and  Bro.  Hesletine,  G.  Sec.,  who  were  all 
present,  as  well  as  most  of  the  Grand  Stewards."  But 
these  particulars,  though  the  Square  might  consistently 
reveal  them  to  me,  cannot  be  placed  on  record  here. 

"Aftrr  the  Lecture  had  been  discussed  seriatim,  and 
approved,"  said  the  Square,  "  Bro.  Preston  concluded 
with  an  oration,  which  was  printed  in  the  first  edition  of 
his  celebrated  masonic  work. 

"  The  Brethren  then  adjourned  to  the  banqueting- 
room,  where  they  found  a  band  of  music,  and  a  table 
spread  with  every  delicacy  the  season  could  afford.  It 
was,  indeed,  a  most  magnificent  affair,  and  nobly  did 
Bro.  Preston  regale  his  Triends.  After  the  table  was 
cleared,  and  dessert  and  wine  introduced,  the  conversa- 
tion took  its  tone  from  the  especial  business  of  the  day, 
and,  considering  the  talents  and  high  station  in  Masonry 
of  the  company  present,  was  an  intellectual  treat  of  no 
common  order. 

"These  preliminary  exertions  on  the  part  of  our 
worthy  Brother,"  said  my  amusing  companion,  "I 
became  acquainted  with  incidentally,  for  they  occurred 
before  I  had  the  honour  of  being  introduced  to  him. 
His  singular  activity  and  vigour  in  the  government  of  a 
Lodge  were  celebrated  throughout  the  Fraternity,  and 
had  contributed  to  heap  honours  and  commendations  upon 
him,  to  which  I  must  add,  in  justice  to  his  memory,  he 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         135 

was  fairly  entitled.  When  I  was  first  suspended  from 
his  collar,  he  held  .the  office  of  Deputy  G.  Sec.,  which 
occupied  much  of  his  time.  He  executed  the  chief  part 
of  the  correspondence;  entered  the  minutes;  attended 
committees;  issued  summonses;  drew  out  and  printed 
abstracts  of  petitions ;  compiled  the  calendars,  &c. 

"All -this  labour  he  performed  gratuitously  for  two 
years,  and  he  was  further  employed  by  the  Hall  Com- 
mittee to  search  the  Grand  Lodge  Books,  and  make  con- 
densed extracts  from  the  minutes,  and  to  arrange  and 
digest  them  as  an  appendix  to  a  projected  Book  of  Con- 
stitutions. Such  an  incessant  demand  on  his  time  was 
prejudicial  to  his  health,  and  a  transient  dispute  with 
Bro.  Hesletine,  the  G.  Sec.,  originating  in  some  mis- 
understanding about  the  publication  of  his  Illustrations 
of  Masonry,  induced  him  to  resign  the  office.  The  cir- 
cumstances which  led-  to  this  unfortunate  disagreement 
are  easily  enumerated. 

"The  Grand  Secretary,  with  a  view  to  the  publication 
of  an  improved  edition  of  the  Book  of  Constitutions, 
which  should  bring  down  the  history  of  Masonry  to  his 
own  time,  had  selected  Bro.  Preston,  whose  popularity 
was  in  its  zenith,  as  the  most  eligible  person  he  could 
employ  to  carry  the  design  into  execution.  For  this 
purpose  he  was  allowed  a  free  inspection  of  all  papers, 
documents,  and  evid'ences  belonging  to  the  Grand  Lodge. 
But  it  so  happened,  that  while  Bro.  Preston  was  thus 
engaged,  the  Grand  Secretary  became  acquainted  with  a 
Barrister  of  Bernard's  Inn,  called  Noorthouck,  who  was 
a  member  of  the  Lodge  of  Antiquity.  Being  a  facetious, 
free-witted,  and  amusing  fellow,  full  of  anecdote,  and 
possessing  a  fund  of  general  information,  the  G.  Secretary 
became  fascinated  by  his  vivacity  and  ready  wit.  The 
consequence  was,  that,  as  the  compilation  of  the  Book 
of  Constitutions  was  likely  to  be  attended  with  consider- 
able emolument,  Bro.  Hesletine  was  desirous  of  associ- 
ating him  with  his  deputy  as  a  joint  partner  in  the  under- 
taking. .  But  as  the  latter  had  already  incurred  all  the 
heavy  labour  in  selecting,  copying,  and  embodying  the 
records  into  historical  form,  in  the  hope  that  he  should 
be  ultimately  remunerated  for  his  trouble,  he  declined 
the  offer,  and  Bro.  Noorthouck  was  intrusted  with  the 
sole  execution  of  this  important  work. 


134        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

"  When  Bro.  Preston  found,"  the  Square  continued, 
"that  he  was  excluded  from  all  participation  in  the 
honours  and  rewards  which  lie  had  confidently  antici- 
pated would  result  from  the  great  inconvenience  -and 
loss  of  time  to  which  he  had  been  subjected  in  the  pre- 
paration of  materials  for  the  undertaking,  he  expostu- 
lated warmly,  and,  perhaps,  intemperately,  against  such 
a  flagrant  act  of  injustice,  and  threw  up  the  office  of  D. 
G.  Sec.  in  disgust. 

" « By  my  faith,'  said  Bro.  Preston  one  evening,  when 
the  matter  was  discussed  in  open  Lodge,  *I  would  not 
have  held  the  D.  G.  Secretaryship  on  such  terms  another 
hour, — HO,  not  if  Hesletine  were  incapable  of  finding  a 
substitute.  He  might,  for  aught  I  care,  have  done  the 
work  himself.' 

"It  was  an  imprudent  word,  and,  being  repeated  to 
Bro.  Hesletine,  was  warmly  resented.  Whether  Bro. 
Preston  refused  to  give  up  the  materials  which  he  had 
collected  with  so  much  labour  or  not,  I  could  never  dis- 
cover; but  it  is  highly  probable  he  withheld  them,  as  the 
G.  Sec.  was  mortally  offended,  and  determined  within 
himself  that  such  contumacy  should  not  remain  long 
unpunished. 

"An  opportunity  soon  presented  itself;  and  Bro. 
Preston  was  arraigned  before  the  Grand  Lodge  for  an 
alleged  breach  of  the  laws  of  Masonry.  The  grounds 
of  the  proceedings  which  were  instituted  against  him 
were  simple  enough  in  their  nature  and  origin,  but  they 
produced  very  serious  effects.  The  facts  were  these. 
It  had  been  determined  unanimously  by  the  Brethren 
of  the  Lodge  of  Antiquity,  at  a  full  meeting,  holden  on 
the  17th  of  December,  1777,  that  at  the  annual  festival, 
on  St.  John's  day,  a  procession  should.be  formed  to  St. 
Dunstau's  Church,  a  few  steps  only  from  the  Mitre 
Tavern,  where  the  Lodge  was  held,  to  hear  a  sermon 
from  Bro.  Eccles.6 

*  Bro.  Preston  gives  the  following  account  of  this  transaction : — 
'*The  Master  of  the  Lodge,  Bro.  Wilson,  called  upon  me,  and  re- 
quested my  assistance  in  procuring  the  Church.  We  waited  on  Bro. 
Noorthouck,  at  his  chambers,  and  he  acquiesced  in  our  proceedings. 
Some  private  conversation  ensued  in  regard  to  the  propriety  of 
advertising ;  and  no  material  objection  occurring,  it  was  agreed  to 
insert  the  following  in  the  papers  — 4  FREE  MASONS.  A  Sermon  will 
be  preached  before  the  K.  W.  Master.,  Wardens,  and  Brothers  of 
the  Lodge  of  Antiquity,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Eccles,  Rector  of  Bow,  und 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  135 

"When  the  day  arrived,  and  preparations  were  made 
for  the  ceremony,  a  protest  against  the  procession  was 
.entered  by  Bro.  Noorthouck,  the  Treasurer,  and  Bro. 
Bottomley,  Past  Treasurer  of  the  Lodge;  in  consequence 
of  which  the  Brethren  abandoned  the  design,  and  did 
not  proceed  to  the  church  in  masonic  costume,  as  was 
originally  intended,  but  clothed  themselves  in  the  vestry- 
room  ;  and,  being  only  ten  in  number,  they  all  sat  in  the 
same  pew,  Bro.  Eccles  gave  them  an  appropriate  dis- 
course; and,  divine  service  being  ended,  the  Brethren 
crossed  the  street  in  white  aprons  and  gloves.  This  was 
construed  into  a  grave  offence  against  the  standing  rules 
of  the  Order. 

"  Bro.  Noorthouck  did  not  attend  the  ensuing  Lodge, 
but  he  sent  a  strong  remonstrance  against  the  proceed- 
ing, and  threatened  to  bring  the  matter  before  the  Grand 
Lodge,  if  the  Lodge  of  Antiquity  did  not,  then  and  there, 
pass  a  resolution  affirming  that,  as  a  Lodge,  they  not 
only  totally  disapproved  of  and  repudiated  the  transac- 
tion, but  also  absolutely  censured  and  condemned  the 
ten  individuals  engaged  in  the  (so  called)  procession  for 
such  an  unwarrantable  breach  of  masonic  law. 

"Bro.  Bottomley  was  intrusted  with  the  resolution, 
and  proposed  it  in  form.  The  Brethren  were  taken  by 
surprise;  but  the  motion  being  duly  seconded,  it  was  of 
course  submitted  by  the  Master  to  the  deliberation  of 
the  Lodge,  and  a  debate  ensued. 

"On  this  evening  a  distinguished  visitor  was  present,  . 
in  the  person  of  Capt.  George  Smith,  an  active  and 
zealous  Mason,  who  was  on  terms  of  intimacy  with  the 
Grand  Master,  and  the  personal  friend  of  Bro.  Preston. 
He  had  studied  Masonry  both  at  home  and  abroad,  and 
was  presumed  to  be  well  acquainted  with  the  Laws  and 
Constitutions  of  the  Order.  Eminent  in  masonic  attain- 
ments himself,  he  was  ever  ready  to  estimate  and  pro- 
claim the  same  excellence  in  others.  Belonging  to  an 
honourable  profession,  he  was  too  chivalnc  to  allow 
passion  or  prejudice  to  interfere  with  justice  and  equity, 
nor  would  he  suffer  the  weak  to  be  oppressed  without 

Chaplain  to  that  Lodge,  on  Saturday- next,  the  27th  ™t.,  bemgthj 
festival  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist,  at  St.  Duhstan's  Church,  Fleet 
street.  Service  to  begin  at  11  o'clock.'  " 


136        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

lending  a  helping  hand,  even  though  his  exertions  in 
their  behalf  might  chance,  like  the  seventh  bullet  in 
'Der  Freischiitz,'  to  recoil  upon  himself.7  In  the  present 
case,  he  was  impressed  with  the  idea  that  the  charge 
against  his  friend  was  too  trifling  for  any  serious  notice ; 
and  he  determined  to  use  an  effort  for  its  defeat.  For 
this  purpose  he  craved  permission  of  the  R.  W.  M.  to 
offer  an  opinion  on  the  question  at  issue,  which  would 
have  been  readily  conceded,  if  Bro.  Bottomley  had  not 
entered  a  protest,  alleging  that,  as  a  visitor,  he  had  no 
voice  there.  Capt.  Smith  bowed  to  the  decision,  and 
informed  the  Chair  that  he  should  content  himself  with 
watching  the  proceedings  in  silence. 

"'You  may  watch  as  you  please,'  Bro.  Bottomley 
added,  'so  long  as  you  have  the  kindness  to  refrain  from 
speaking.  You  are  not  a  Member,  and  have  no  vote 
here.' 

"It  was  an  unpropitious  commencement,"  the  Square 
continued,  "and  I  should  gladly  conceal  the  subsequent 
proceedings,  if  I  consulted  my  own  inclination.  The 
debate  continued  to  a  late  hour.  Bro.  Bottomley  per- 
sisted in  his  argument,  that  the  act  of  appearing  in 
public  decorated  with  masonic  badges  constituted  an 
infraction  of  the  spirit,  if  not  of  the  actual  letter  of  the 
law,,  and  merited  censure. 

"'As  to  the  fact,'  said  Bro.  Buchanan,  'we  do  not 
deny  it.  We  did  appear  in  masonic  clothing.  But  if 
any  person  chanced  to  see  us,  which  is  not  proved,  during 
the  half-minute  employed  in  crossing  the  street,  he  passed 
on  without  either  notice  or  remark,  and,  therefore,  it  is 
evident  we  attracted  no  extraordinary  observation.' 

"  'How  know  you  that?'  Bro.  Rigg  asked,  sneeringly. 

"'Because,'  Bro.  Buchanan  replied,  'I  can  use  my 
eyes.' 

'"If  youi  eyes,'  Bro.  Rigg  responded,  'serve  you  no 


excuse 


7  The  Squaie  once  more  anachronizes.  But  I  suppose  we  mnst 
_:cuse  the  lapse»  on  the  Horatian  maxim,  "  quando  bonu*  dormitat 
Homerus." — P.  D. — [An  error,  with  submission  to  the  above  erudite 
authority ;  for  the  Square  appears  to  be  wide  awake.  Though  re- 
cording the  past,  he  is  represented  as  an  existing  reality;  and  a 
reference  to  any  transaction  of  more  recent1  date  than  the  period 
of  which  he  treats,  is,  therefore,  grammatically  correct. — ED.  F.  O. 
M.  £  R.] 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  137 

better  than  your  judgment,  there  will  be  some  danger 
in  intrusting  your  veracity  to  their  keeping.' 

"This  was  sharp  practice,"  continued  the  Square, 
"and  Bro.  Wilson,  the  R.  W.  M.,  thought  it  time  to 
interfere.  'Come,  come,'  said  he,  'this  language  is  not 
masonic,  and  is  a  greater  breach  of  the  law  than  walking 
ten  yards  in  a  white  apron.  Let  us,  by  all  means,  have 
order  in  our  debates,  whatever  may  be  the  ultimate 
decision.  The  question  before  the  Lodge  is,  whether 
we  are  inclined  to  repudiate  or  discountenance  the 
Brethren  who  attended  Divine  Service  in  St.  Dunstan's 
Church,  on  St.  John's  day?' 

" '  With  submission,  R.  W.  Sir,'  Bro.  Bottomley  ob- 
jected, 'the  resolution  which  I  have  had  the  honour  to 
propose  refers  not  to  the  men  so  much  as  to  the  measure. 
The  Lodge  is  called  on  to  discountenance  the  breach  of 
masonic  law  committed  on  that  occasion.' 

"  *  If  this  be  the  real  question  at  issue,'  said  Bro.  Pres- 
ton, 'it  is  first  incumbent  on  you  to  prove  that  it  was  a 
breach  of  masonic  law;  for  no  man,  devoid  of  prejudice, 
would  be  capable  of  affirming  that  the  law  respecting 
processions  actually  debars  the  Members  of  any  private 
Lodge  from  offering  up  their  adorations  to  the  Deity  in  a 
public  place  of  worship,  in  the  character  of  Masons, 
under  the  direction  of  their  Master.  The  very  idea  of 
such  restriction  would  be  the  height  of  absurdity,  and 
could  not  be  admitted  by  any  person  who  professed  him- 
self a  friend  to  the  Society.  Example  will  ever  exceed 
precept,  and  it  is  surely  commendable  to  see  a  Lodge  of 
Masons  patronizing  the  established  religion  of  their 
country,  and  thus  recommending  the  practice  of  piety 
and  devotion  to  their  fellow-subjects.  Besides  which, 
the  Lodge  of  Antiquity  has  its  own  peculiar  rights,  for- 
mally secured  to  it,  at  the  revival  in  1717,  when  the 
present  Grand  Lodge  was  established;  and  we  are  deter- 
mined to  preserve  them  inviolate.  And  I  again  affirm 
that  no  existing  regulation  was  infringed,  even  if  it  be 
admitted — which  is  very  questionable — that  the  Grand 
Lodge  is  empowered  to  make  laws  binding  upon  a  Lodge 
which  has  acted  on  its  own  independent  authority  from 
a  period  long  anterior  to  the  existence  of  that  body.' 

"This  avowal,"  said  the  Square,  "  was  received  with 
BO  much  applause,  that  Bro.  Bottomley  exclaimed,  'Ay, 


138        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

those  are  the  sentiments  which  we  are  determined  to 
rebut,  be  the  consequence  what  it  may.  I  affirm  that 
the  Grand  Lodge  is,  absolutely,  and  to  all  intents  and 
purposes,  infallible ;  and  its  dictates,  whether  for  good 
or  evil,  must  be  obeyed,  even  by  the  Lodge  of  Antiquity, 
though  it  was  in  existence  before  the  reconstruction  of 
the  Grand  Lodge.' 

"  'Keep  your  temper,  I  beseech  you,  Bro.  Bottomley,' 
said  the  R.  W.  M.,  mildly,  'we  are  assembled  to  deliber- 
ate, and  not  to  indulge  in  personalities  and  recrimination: 
otherwise,  I  shall  be  under  the  painful  necessity  of 
closing  the  Lodge  without  coming  to  a  decision.' 

"The  Master's  authority,  however,  was  not  sufficient 
to  stem  the  tide,  and  the  debate  became  so  stormy,  that 
he  had  great  difficulty  in  keeping  order.  At  length  the 
question  was  put  from  the  Chair,  and  it  was  negatived 
by  a  majority  of  eighteen  against  four. 

"This  decision  was  so  unpalatable  to  the  accusing 
Brethren,  that,  at  the  ensuing  Grand  Lodge,  a  Memorial, 
signed  by  John  Bottomley,  John  Smith,  William  Rigg, 
and  John  Noorthouck,  was  presented,  stating  that  a 
flagrant  outrage  had  been  committed  against  the  Institu- 
tion by  the  Master,  Wardens,  and  some  of  the  Brethren 
of  the  Lodge  of  Antiquity,  principally  instigated  by  the 
persuasion  and  example  of  Bro.  Preston,  its  Past  Master, 
who,  at  a  recent  Lodge,  violated  his  duty  as  a  Mason,  by 
justifying  public  processions,  and  claiming  for  that  Lodge 
an  inherent  right  to  act  in  such  affairs  without  the 
authority  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  and  questioning  the 
power  of  that  Body  to  interfere  in  the  private  concerns 
of  a  Lodge  which  was  alleged  to  possess  a  prescriptive 
immunity  from  its  jurisdiction. 

"  In  consequence  of  the  above  charges,  Bro.  Preston 
was  summoned  to  appear  before  the  Committee  of  Chari- 
ty, to  answer  any  complaint  which  might  be  preferred 
against  him.8  In  the  intermediate  period,  however," 

8  The  above  memorial  was  replied  to  officially  by  the  Master, 
Wardens,  and  Brethren  of  the  Lodge  to  the  number  of  eighteen,  all 
of  whom  appended  their  signatures.  They  stated  that,  on  the  occa- 
sion alluded  to,  "  there  was  no  formal  masonic  procession ;  and  that  a 
few  Brethren  only  walked  across  the  street  from  the  church  to  the 
Mitre  Tavern,  the  distance  being  scarcely  a  dozen  yards,  in  thr'r 
clothing  and  Jewels  as  individuals.  Masons  were  not  indiscrirr  • 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         139 

the  Square  continued,  "the  Grand  Secretary  was  im- 
plored by  several  Brethren,  who  were  personally  unin- 
terested in  the  dispute,  to  use  his  influence  with  the 
memorialists,  for  the  peace  and  reputation  of  the  Order, 
to  induce  them  to  withdraw  their  charges,  as  he  must 
see  that  it  was  simply  a  frivolous  and  vexatious  attack 
on  an  individual  who  had  rendered  great  services  to 
Masonry.  Unfortunately  the  application  was  disre- 
garded. 

"Bro.  Preston  attended  the  Committee  on  the  30th  of 
January,  1778,  and  was  charged  with  asserting  that  the 
Lodge  of  Antiquity  possessed  exclusive  privileges  of  its 
own,  independent  of  the  Grand  Lodge;  and  he  was- 
called  on  to  retract  that  opinion  publicly,  and  to  declare 
that  it  was  equally  untrue  and  inadmissible. 

"  In  reply  to  this  demand,  Bro.  Preston  rose  and  said : — 
'  Right  Worshipful  Sir, — In  answer  to  the  charge  which 
you  have  now  preferred  against  me,  I  beg  leave  respect- 
fully to  declare  that  whatever  private  opinions  I  may 
entertain  on  the  prescriptive  immunities  of  the  Lodge  of 
Antiquity,  they  have  always  been  inoperative;  and  I 
have  never  attempted  to  prejudice  the  Brethren  against 
their  obedience  to  the  Grand  Master.  As  to  the  abstract 
question  of  retracting  an  opinion,  I  cannot  understand 
how  that  is  possible,  unless  I  am  convinced  of  my  error; 
and  I  submit  that,  as  a  Free  and  Accepted  Mason,  I  am 
fairly  entitled  to  the  right  of  self-judgment ;  but  I  pledge 
my  honour  that  it  shall  never  disturb  the  tranquillity  of 
the  Craft.' 

"Notwithstanding  this  open  and  candid  declaration," 

nately  collected  from  a  variety  of  Lodges,  with  a  view  of  exposing 
the  insignia  of  the  Order  to  gratify  a  private  inclination  for  masonio 
display,  or  to  amuse  the  rabble,  as  the  memorialists  allege ;  the  char- 
acter of  the  profession  was  not  disgraced  by  imprudence  or  indiscre- 
tion ;  there  was  no  private  interest  to  serve,  no  peculiar  passion  to 
gratify ;  the  number  of  Brethren  did  not  exceed  ten,  all  of  whom 
were  members  of  the  Lodge ;  their  behaviour  was  suitable  to  the 
business  in  which  they  were  engaged ;  and  they,  therefore,  submit 
their  case  to  the  consideration  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  in  the  hope  that 
the  conduct  of  the  memorialists  will  be  considered  illiberal ;  then  re- 
flections on  Bro.  Preston  as  ungenerous  and  ill-grounded ;  and  their 
proceedings  dictated  by  a  warmth  of  temper  not  altogether  consistent 
with  their  professed  knowledge  of  the  principles  of  Masonry ;  and 
that,  in  consequence  thereof,  their  complaint  will  be  rejected  as  frivo- 
lous." 


140        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

said  the  Square,  "  the  Committee  came  to  the  following 
resolution,  after  a  long  and  warm  debate. 

"'It  having  been  represented  to  us  that  Bro.  Preston, 
the  Past  Master  of  the  Lodge  of  Antiquity,  believes  and 
teaches  that  an  inherent  right  is  vested  in  that  Lodge, 
by  virtue  of  its  immemorial  Constitution,  to  discharge 
the  duties  and  practise  the  rites  of  Masonry  on  its  own 
sole  authority,  and  that  it  is  not  in  the  power  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  to  infringe  on  its  privileges ;  it  is  Resolved, 
that  as  Bro.  Preston  refuses  to  retract  the  said  false 
opinion,  he  be,  and  hereby  is,  expelled  the  Grand  Lodge, 
and  declared  incapable  of  attending  the  same,  or  any  of 
its  Committees.' 

"  You  will  remember,  sir,"  said  the  Square,  swinging 
playfully  round  on  his  dexter  limb,  "  that  I  was  present  on 
all  these  occasions,  and,  therefore,  may  be  fairly  pre- 
sumed to  state  the  matter  correctly.  At  the  next  meeting 
of  the  Lodge  of  Antiquity,  the  R.  W.  M.  complained  of 
the  unusual  harshness  of  the  decision,  and  said, — 'I 
appeal  to  you  all,  whether,  from  the  number  of  years 
Bro.  Preston  has  been  actively  engaged  in  Masonry,  the 
pains  and  diligence  he  has  used  in  promoting  the  general 
designs  of  the  Order,  the  many  valuable  members  he  has 
introduced,  to  the  amount  of  upwards  of  three  hundred 
in  number,  of  which  Masonry  and  the  Grand  Lodge  have 
reaped  all  the  benefit,  and  Bro.  Preston  nothing,  added  to 
the  time  and  money  he  has  expended  in  masonic  pursuits, 
the  present  transaction  is  not  a  very  ungrateful  and  in- 
adequate return  for  his  services.' 

"  The  Brethren  answered  in  the  affirmative,  and  advised 
Bro.  Preston  to  memorialize  the  Grand  Lodge  to  withhold 
its  confirmation  of  the  sentence.  He  took  their  advice  ; 
and  at  the  next  Quarterly  Communication  a  motion  was 
made  to  that  effect,  and  a  hot  debate  ensued,  in  which 
several  members  took  a  part ;  but  as  the  enemies  of  Bro. 
Preston  appeared  to  be  the  most  numerous  party,  the 
Deputy  Grand  Master  proposed  a  compromise,  to  the 
effect  that  if  Bro.  Preston  would  sign  a  document  recant- 
ing his  opinions  respecting  the  presumed  rights  of  the 
Lodge  of  Antiquity,  the  sentence  pronounced  by  the 
Committee  of  Charity  should  be  formally  quashed.  Bro. 
Preston  hesitated  about  subscribing  to  a  dogma  which 
he  did  not  believe ;  but,  being  pressed  by  his  friends, 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        141 

he  complied  with  the  requisition,  and  signed  the  docu- 
ment. 

"  The  sentence  of  expulsion  was  thus  evaded,"  con- 
tinued the  Square,  "but  it  produced  consequences  which 
were  never  anticipated,  even  by  the  Deputy  Grand  Mas- 
ter himself. 

"  At  the  next  meeting  of  the  Lodge  of  Antiquity,  Bro. 
Bottomley  contended  that  Bro.  Preston  no  longer  pos- 
sessed the  power  of  speaking  or  voting  in  any  regular 
Lodge,  being  restricted  by  his  subscription  to  the  above 
document ;  and  moved  that  Bro.  Preston  should  sign  in 
the  minute-book  a  declaration  to  the  same  effect  with 
that  which  he  had  signed  at  the  last  Quarterly  Commu- 
nication. The  question  was  put,  and  negatived  by  a 
great  majority. 

"  Bro.  Preston  then  said,  that  if  the  declaration  he  had 
signed,  at  the  pressing  entreaty  of  his  friends,  was  intend- 
ed to  debar  him  from  the  privilege  of  speaking  and 
voting  in  his  own  Lodge,  he  should  immediately  write 
to  the  Grand  Secretary,  and  withdraw  his  subscription. 
Accordingly,  the  next  day  he  wrote  to  Bro.  Hesletine, 
stating  that  he  had  affixed  his  name  to  the  declaration,  by 
the  advice  of  his  friends,  for  the  sake  of  peace,  although 
his  private  opinions  on  the  subject  remained  unchanged ; 
but  as  he  had  been  informed,  to  his  great  surprise,  by 
Bro.  Bottomley,  that  it  was  considered  in  the  light  of  a 
virtual  expulsion  from  the  Order,  he  had  come  to  the  de- 
termination of  withdrawing  his  subscription  from  the 
document. 

"Poor  Bru.  Preston,"  continued  the  Square,  "was 
placed  on  the  horns  of  a  dilemma.  If  his  subscription 
remained  untouched,  the  expulsion  was  virtual;  if  he 
withdrew  it,  the  former  sentence  remained  in  force,  and 
the  expulsion  was  actual. 

"  Nor  did  the  proceedings  terminate  at  this  point.  For 
Bro.  Preston  was  once  more  summoned  before  the  Com- 
mittee to  answer  a  protest  against  the  proceedings  of  the 
Lodge  of  Antiquity,  and  other  complaints  which  had 
been  exhibited  against  him. 

"At  this  meeting,"  said  the  Square,  "the  Deputy 
Grand  Master  occupied  the  chair,  and  Bro.  Preston  was 
permitted  to  enter  on  his  defence.  He  made  a  long  and 
admirable  speech,  in  which  he  contended  that  the  Grand 


142        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

Lodge  was  not  competent  to  enter  a  protest  against  the 
proceedings  of  a  private  Lodge ;  and  called  upon  the 
Grand  Secretary  to  say  whether  a  single  precedent  to  that 
effect  could  be 'found  en  the  books  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
from  its  first  establishment  to  the  present  time.  And  if 
no  precedent  could  be  adduced,  he  hoped  the  present 
process  would  be  rejected  as  informal. 

"  This  able  and  conclusive  defence,"  the  Square  con- 
tinued, "  was  followed  by  a  desultory  conversation,  in 
which  all  the  principal  parties  to  the  dispute,  on  both 
sides,  delivered  their  opinions  freely.  There  was  a  clash 
of  arms — loud  words — but  no  bones  broken.  The  case 
was  so  clear  that  the  Committee  came  to  no  formal  reso- 
lution on  the  subject;  and  Bro.  Preston  and  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Lodge  of  Antiquity  withdrew7 — not,  it  is  true, 
singing  Te  Dcwn — but  without  having  any  censure  pas- 
sed on  their  conduct,  and  scarcely  able  to  ascertain 
correctly  why  they  had  been  summoned  to  attend.  They 
flattered  themselves,  however,  that,  after  this  vapid  exhi- 
bition, the  unpleasant  subject  would  be  allowed  to  sink 
quietly  into  oblivion. 

"  Alas,"  said  the  Square,  "  they  were  never  more  mis- 
taken. At  the  very  next  Quarterly  Communication,  Bro. 
Hull,  a  Past  Grand  Warden,  and  Clerk  in  the  Salt  Office, 
moved,  that,  in  the  opinion  of  this  Grand  Lodge,  Bro. 
Preston  had  been  the  promoter  and  instigator  of  all  the 
measures  taken  by  the  Lodge  of  Antiquity,  in  derogation 
of  the  authority  of  the  Grand  Master,  arid  calculated  to 
bring  the  Grand  Lodge  into  contempt  with  the  Brethren. 

"This  motion  w.as  intended  as  a  preparatory  step  to  a 
new  censure  on  his  conduct;  and  being  immediately 
seconded,  it  would  have  been  put  to  the  vote  at  once  by 
the  Deputy  Grand  Master,  if  some  of  the  Brethren  had 
not  desired  to  be  heard  against  it.  While  the  matter  was 
in  the  course  of  discussion,  Bro.  Hull  was  advised  by 
some  Brethren,  who  were  under  the  apprehension  of 
being  in  a  minority,  to  withdraw  his  motion.  The  even- 
ing being  now  far  advanced,  and  two  other  motions 
having  been  quashed  by  the  D.  G.  M.  on  account  of  their 
tendency  to  revive  the  dispute,  it  was  imagined  that 
nothing  further  would  be  heard  respecting  the  Lodge  of 
Antiquity  or  its  members;  and  on  this  presumption  many 
of  th^  most  attached  friends  of  Bro.  Preston  retired. 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  14.3 

"But  at  'this  late  hour,"  the  Square  continued,  "a mo- 
tion wa*s  made,  and  duly  seconded,  to  the  effect,  that  the 
Hall  Committee  be  continued  with  its  usual  powers, 
except  that  Bro.  Preston's  name  be  excluded;  for  it  was 
thought  by  his  adversaries  that  if  this  were  carried,  it 
would  be  tantamount  to  actual  expulsion.  The  proceed- 
ing was  not  strictly  regular ;  but  as  all  advantages  in 
strategy  are  accounted  fair,  the  resolution,  though  com- 
bated by  Bro.  Preston,  with  his  usual  tact  and  ability,  and 
though  the  Deputy  Grand  Master,  perceiving  its  tenden- 
cy, and  feeling  confident  that  it  proceeded  from  an 
unfriendly  spirit,  observed  that  unless  the  Brother  could 
be  prevailed  on  to  withdraw  his  motion,  he  should  l>e 
obliged,  though  reluctantly,  to  submit  it  to  the  decision 
of  the  Grand  Lodge,  it  was  persisted  in ;  and  the  ques- 
tion being  put,  it  was  carried  in  the  affirmative,  and  Bro. 
Preston  was  excluded  from  the  pale  of  Masonry.9 

"  The  R.  W.  M.,  Officers  and  Brethren  of  the  Lodge  of 
Antiquity,"  the  Square  proceeded  to  inform  me,  "  felt  the 
indignity,  which  had  been  cast  upon  them  by  these  pro- 
ceedings, so  warmly,  that,  at  the  very  next  Lodge,  they 
expressed  their  sentiments  on  the  subject,  in  a  manner  not 
to  be  mistaken,  by  the  expulsion  of  the  three  chief  agita- 
tors, Bros.  Bottomley,  Noorthouck,  and  Brearly.  They 
passed  a  unanimous  resolution,  in  which  they  pronounced 
the  late  transactions  of  the  Grand  Lodge  to  be  a  viola- 
tion of  their  inherent  rights  ;  declaring  that  from  hence- 
forth the  Lodge  of  Antiquity  renounced  all  communica- 
tion with  that  body ;  and  that  they  would  for  the  future 
act  on  their  own  legitimate  authority,  as  an  immemorial 
Institution.10 

9  Bro.  Preston  published  a  brief  account  of  these  transactions  in 
a  pamphlet,  which  he  called  "A  State  of  Facts,  1778,"  for  private 
distribution  amongst  his  own  particular  friends.     It  was,  I  believe, 
never  published  ;  but  the  above  particulars  have  been  gathered  partly 
from  that  authority. 

10  Bro.  Preston  thus  laments  this  unfortunate  schism.    "The  Lodge 
of  Antiquity  having  expelled  three  of  its  Members  for  misbehaviour, 
the  Grand  Lodge  interfered,  and,  as  was  thought,  without  proper  in- 
vestigation, ordered   them  to   be   reinstated.     With  this   order   the 
Lodge  refused  to  comply,  the  Members  conceiving  themselves  compe- 
tent and  sole  judges  in  the  choice  of  their  own  private  Members. 
Matters  were  carried  to  the  extreme  on  both  sides,  resolutions  pr©o> 
pitately  entered  into,  and  edicts  inadvertently  issued,  memorials  and 
remonstrances  were  presented  in  vain,  and  at  last  a  rupture  ensued. 

7* 


144        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

'•For  ten  consecutive  years  this  arrangement  continued 
undisturbed ;  and  the  Lodge  of  Antiquity  held  on  its 
course,  independently  of  either  of  the  rival  Grand  Lodges 
which  were  at  the  head  of  the  two  sections  into  which 
English  Masonry  was  divided.  During  the  period  o* 
Bro.  Preston's  exclusion  he  seldom  attended  a  Lodge; 
but  devoted  his  attention  to  other  literary  pursuits, 
which  contributed  more  essentially  to  his  advantage. 
To  the  Lodge  of  Antiquity,  and  to  ours,"  said  the  Square, 
"he  continued  warmly  attached ;  and  it  was  a  matter  of 
deep  regret  with  many  of  the  best  friends  of  the  Institu- 
tion, that  so  useful  and  zealous  a  Brother  should  have 
had  occasion  to  withdraw  his  active  co-operation  from  a 
Society  to  which  he  had  proved  himself  a  diligent  and 
faithful  advocate. 

"At  length,"  the  Square  continued,  uin  the  year  1787, 
when  the  metropolitan  Fraternity  had  become  grieved 
and  disgusted  at  this  unsatisfactory  state  of  things,  so 
disreputable  to  the  Order,  and  his  Royal  Highness  the 
Duke  of  Cumberland  was  Grand  Master  of  Masons,  he 
was  earnestly  entreated  to  interfere.  Under  his  superin- 
tendence, therefore,  the  case  of  Bro.  Preston  and  the 
Lodge  of  Antiquity  was  submitted  to  the  consideration 
of  the  Grand  Lodge  in  a  better  spirit ;  and  that  body  at 
once  rescinded  all  the  former  proceedings,  reinstated  the 
Lodge  of  Antiquity  in  all  its  masonic  privileges,  and 
restored  Bro.  Preston  to  his  dignities  and  honours. 
And,  to  the  unfeigned  joy  of  all  the  Fraternity,  this 
eminent  Brother,  like  the  sun  bursting  through  a  bank  of 
clouds,  once  more  resumed  his  usual  activity  in  the  sacred 
cause  of  Masonry.  He  revived  the  Order  of  Harodim, 
and  instituted  a  Grand  Chapter,  where  the  Lectures  of 
Masonry  were  periodically  illustrated  by  the  Companions. 
Over  this  Chapter  the  Right  Hon.  Lord  Macdonald  pre- 
sided as  Grand  Patron;  and  James  Hesletine,  William 

The  Lodge  of  Antiquity  pleaded  its  immemorial  privileges,  published 
a  manifesto  in  its  vindication,  notified  its  separation  from  the  Grand 
Lodge,  and  avowed  an  alliance  with  the  Grand  Lodge  of  all  England, 
held  in  the  city  of  York.  The  Grand  Lodge,  on  the  other  hand,  en- 
forced its  edicts,  and  expelled  several  worthy  Brethren  from  the 
Society  for  refusing  to  surrender  the  property  of  the  Lodge  to  per- 
sons who  had  been  regularly  expelled  from  it.  This  produced  a 
schism  which  lasted  for  ten  years." — (Illustr.  of  Masonry,  p.  245. 
Ed.  1829.) 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  145 

Birch,  John  Spottiswoode,  and  William  Meyrick,  Esqs., 
as  Vice-Patrons.11 

"Through  the  medium  of  this  Institution,  Bro.  Pres- 
ton's system  of  lecturing  became  prevalent  in  all  the 
Lodges  both  in  town  and  country;  and,"  the  Square 
added,  "  I  considered  it  to  be  a  g<eat  blow  and  discour- 
agement to  Masonry,  when  the  Order  of  Harodim  was 
suffered  to  fall  into  desuetude,  inasmuch  as,  while  it 
preserved  the  ancient  purity  of  the  science,  it  refined  the 
vehicle  by  which  it  is  conveyed  to  the  ear ;  as  a  diamond 
is  enhanced  in  value  by  being  polished." 

11  The  Order  is  thus  explained  by  its  author.  "  The  mysteries  of 
this  Order  are  peculiar  to  the  Institution  itself;  while  the  lectures  of 
the  Chapter  include  every  branch  of  the  masonic  system.,  and  repre- 
sent the  art  of  Masonry  in  a  finished  and  complete  form.  Different 
classes  are  established,  and  particular  lectures  restricted  to  each  class. 
Tho  lectures  are  divided  into  sections,  and  the  sections  into  clauses. 
The  sections  are  annually  assigned,  by  the  chief  Harod,  to  a  certain 
number  of  skilful  companions  in  each  class,  who  are  denominated 
Sectionists ;  and  they  are  empowered  to  distribute  the  clauses  of  their 
respective  sections,  with  the  approbation  of  the  Chief  Harod  and 
General  Director,  among  the  private  companions  of  the  Chapter,  who 
are  denominated  Clauseholders.  Such  companions  as  by  assiduity 
become  r*  wppused  of  all  the  sections  in  the  lecture,  are  called  Lec- 
turers; tatts  vox  of  these  the  General  Director  is  always  chosen." 


CHAPTER  IX. 

! CAPTAIN    G.    SMITH. 

1779—1785. 


44  The  Dove  brings  quiet,  and  the  Olive  peace." — PRIOR. 
"Wise  and  learned  men  are  the  surest  stakes  in  the  hedge  of  a 
nation  or  city ;  they  are  the  best  conservators  of  our  liberties ;  the 
hinges  on  which  the  welfare,  peace,  and  happiness  hang ;  the  best 
public  good,  and  only  commonwealth's  men.  These  lucubrations, 
meeting  with  a  true  and  brave  mind,  can  conquer  men ;  and,  like  the 
basilisk,  kill  envy  with  a  look."— SMITH. 

44  Ye  dull  stupid  mortals,  give  o'er  your  conjectures, 
Bfeoe  Freemasons'  secrets  ye  ne^er  can  obtain ; 
fcc  Bible  and  Compasses  are  our  l)irectors, 
And  shall  be  as  long  as  this  world  doth  remain," 

MASONIC  SONO. 


AFTER  the  important  case  of  Bro.  Preston  had  been 
disposed  of,  the  Square  continued  its  revelations  by 
quoting  Plato.  "This  celebrated  philosopher,"  he  said, 
"once  observed,  'that  there  never  was  an  individual  born 
into  the  world  who  did  not  possess  some  personal  quality 
which  was  sure  to  recommend  him  to  notice,  if  properly 
applied.  If  of  a  fair  complexion,  he  will  be  considered 
the  favourite  of  heaven ;  if  black,  manly ;  should  he  be 
hooked-nosed,  it  will  give  him  an  air  of  majesty,'  &c. ; 
and  he  might  have  said  the  same  thing  of  mental  qualifi- 
cations, which  are  quite  as  diversified  as  bodily  peculiar! 
ties. 

"These  remarks  are  fully  exemplified  in  the  charactei 
of  an  eminent  and  worthy  Brother,  Capt.  George  Smith, 
on  whose  breast  I  was  now  glittering  as  R.  W.  M.  of  the 
Lodge.  He  was  an  intimate  friend  of  Grand  Master  the 
Duke  of  Manchester,  plain  in  speech  and  manners,  but 
honourable  and  upright  in  his  dealings,  and  an  active 
and  zealous  Mason.  As  Provincial  Grand  Master  for 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         147 

Kent,  he  had  delivered  his  inauguration  Charge  on  St. 
John's  day,  177S;1  and  drew  up  a  code  of  laws  for  the 
province  which  was  much  approved.2  In  a  word,  he  was 
a  bright  and  learned  Brother,  although  rather  bibulously 
inclined ;  and  in  his  convivial  moments,  he  jocularly 
adopted  the  symbolical  vocabulary  which  had  become 
familiar  to  him  by  long  practice  on  the  continent,  calling 
the  table  a  workshop ;  bottles,  barrels;  glasses,  cannons, 
candles,  stars,  &c. 

"But  this  whimsicality  was  only  indulged  on  occasions, 
of  festivity,  and  did  not  derogate  either  from  the  general 
excellence  of  his  masonic  administration,  or  from  his 
personal  popularity.  The  affairs  of  the  Lodge  were 
prosperous,  and  the  Brethren  were  edified  by  his  lucid 
disquisitions  on  many  abstruse  points  which,  at  that 
period, 'were  but  imperfectly  understood  by  any  but 
bright  Master  Masons.  His  lectures  attracted  numerous 
visitors,  and  Bro.  Dunckerley  was  one  of  his  most  inti- 
mate and  esteemed  friends. 

"I  remember,"  said  the  Square,  "on*a  very  full  even- 
ing, when  several  distinguished  Masons,  Bro.  Dunckerley 
amongst  the  number,  were  present,  the  E.  W.  M.  had 
been  lecturing  on  the  Fellowcraft's  Degree,  when  an 
interesting  discussion  arose,  respecting  the  true  form, 
destination,  and  emblematical  meaning  of  the  Winding 
Staircase;  Bro.  Dunckerley  observing,  that  in  his  opi- 
nion some  extraordinary  misconception  must  have  existed 
amongst  the  Fraternity  concerning  this  remarkable 
structure,  because,  he  said,  'it  is  improperly  delineated 
in  all  the  engravings  and  diagrams  that  I  have  ever  seen. 
Its  true  form  was  undoubtedly  spiral,  and  it  was  termed 
cochleus  from  its  resemblance  to  a  screw  or  worm.  The 
number  of  steps  assigned  to  it  is  evidently  symbolical, 
and  has  varied  in  different  ages  of  the  Craft.  At  first  it 
was  3,  5,  or  7;  afterwards  3,  5,  7,  or  11;  while  it  is 
occasionally  phrased  3,  5,  7,  or  some  greater  number, 
which  may,  perhaps,  be  the  true  ancient  reading.  I 
should  be  glad  to  hear  the  opinion  of  so  good  a  Mason 
as  our  R.  W.  M.  on  this  abstruse  subject.'  ' 

1  Charge  to  the  Lodge  of  Friendship  at  Dover,  Dec.  27,  1778. 

2  Rules  and  Regulations  for  the  government  of  the   Provincial 
Grand  Lodge  of  Kent.     1781. 


148         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE 

"Being  thus  appealed  to  by  name.;j  said  the  Squar«; 
"Bro.  Smith  rose  from  his  chair,  and  addressing  the 
Brethren,  he  said,  'Bro.  Dunckerley  has  correctly  ob- 
served, that  the  form  of  the  Winding  Staircase  was 
spiral;  and  I  need  not  add,  as  you  are  all  conversant; 
with  the  fact,  that  the  Masons,  at  the  building  of  tl»w 
Temple,  are  traditionally  said  to  have  made  use  of  it 
when  they  ascended  to  the  Middle  Chamber  to  receive 
their  wages.  But  its  symbolical  reference  involves  facts 
and  doctrines  of  the  greatest  importance,  which  were 
taught  to  the  Craftsmen  in  their  Lodges.  On  the  first 
step  they  were  instructed,  according  to  our  received  tra- 
ditions, to  reflect  on  the  Divine  Unity,  and  to  worship 
JEHOVAH,  the  great  Creator  and  Governor  of  all  subluna- 
ry things.  The  third  step  suggested  the  Holy  Trinity ; 
the  fifth  referred  to  the  orders  of  architecture,  and  tiio 
external  senses;  the  seventh,  to  the  liberal  sciences,  and 
to  the  days  of  labour  and  rest  at  the  creation  of  the  world ; 
and  the  eleventh,  to  the  Patriarchs  after  Joseph  was  sold 
into  Egypt.' 

"Having  given  this  brief  explanation,  Bro.  Prestoii 
requested  permission  to  state  his  opinion,  which  being 
granted,  he  said,  'I  am  inclined  to  believe,  R.  W.  Sir, 
that  the  Masons  of  the  Middle  Ages  extended  this 
symbolical  comparison  somewhat  farther.  They  repre- 
sented the  three  steps  as  pointing  out  the  number  of  Ma- 
sons who  ruled  the  Lodge,  in  allusion  to  the  three  Grand 
Masters  at  the  building  of  the  Temple,  viz.,  the  Master 
and  Wardens ;  the  five  steps  to  the  number  of  Brethren 
who  are  competent  to  hold  a  Fellowcraft's  Lodge,  viz. 
the  Master,  Wardens,  and  two  Fellowcrafts ;  the  seven 
steps  to  those  wrho  are  reputed  to  make  a  Lodge  perfect, 
viz.,  the  Master,  Wardens,  two  Fellowcrafts,  and  two 
Apprentices;  and  the  eleven,  to  the  number  of  Apostles 
after  the  apostacy  of.  Judas  Iscariot.' 

"This  explanation,"  interposed  the  Square,  "though 
forming  a  part  of  the  Prestonian  Lectures,  is  at  variance 
with  those  of  Dr.  Hemming,  which  are  now  in  use,  for 
they  exclude  all  religious  references,  and  account  for  the 
symbolical  steps  by  an  allusion  to  simple  physical  causes 
and  effects.  But  this  interpretation  receives  no  counte- 
nance from  the  established  mode  of  lecturing  used  by  our 
ancient  Brethren. 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  149 

"Bro.  Meyrick,  a  promising  young  man,"  the  Square 
continued,  "who  had  been  recently  initiated,  inquired  of 
the  chair  whether  he  might  be  permitted  to  ask  if  any 
masonic  traditions  are  in  existence  respecting  the  use 
and  appropriation  of  this  staircase,  in  connection  with 
the  upper  chambers  of  the  Temple  ? 

"In  answer  to  this  inquiry,  the  R.  W.  M.  stated  that 
the  Staircase  led  directly  to  the  Middle  Chamber,  a  fact 
which  is  attested  equally  by  Masonry  and  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  although,  in  the  former,  we  have  introduced 
an  entrance  door,  ornamented  with  certain  hieroglyphics, 
which  are  not  noticed  in  the  latter.  The  old  Lectures 
of  Masonry  simply  say  that  the  door  was  open,  but  closely 
tyled,  and  that  the  ceiling  of  the  Chamber  contained  an 
illuminated  Letter,  as  a  sacred  symbol,  referring  to  the 
art  by  which  the  Temple  had  been  built  and  decorated. 

"To  this  information,"  said  the  Square,  "Bro.  Dunc- 
kerley  added  an  observation  on  the  Letter  itself,  which  is 
not  void  of  interest.  He  said,  'We  call  it  the  Letter  @  ; 
but,  in  fact,  if  it  were  really  a  single  letter,  it  was  the 
Yod  within  a  triangle  ^,  which  the  Rabbins  call  the 
KING  NAME,  and  believe  it  to  include  all  the  attributes 
of  the  Deity.  It  will  be  impossible,  however,  to  deter- 
mine correctly  whether  the  inscription  in  the  Middle 
Chamber  was  m  or  mm,  but  probably  the  latter;  although, 
as  the  Jewish  religion  was  typical  of  Christianity,  the 
former,  which  meant  the  Messiah,  would  be  equally  ap- 
propriate; and  as  far  as  the  reference  to  numbers  extends, 
it  might  be  either ;  for,  as  the  former  applies  to  3, 5,  and  7, 
so  the  latter  embraced  the  original  canon  of  3,  5,  7,  and 
11.  In  this  Chamber,  according  to  the  teaching  of  Free- 
masonry, the  Fellowcrafts  received  their  wages  on  the 
Square,  without  diffidence  or  scruple,  from  the  good 
opinion  which  they  entertained  of  their  employers. 

"Here  Bro.  Dunckerley  resumed  his  seat;  and  after  a 
short  silence,  Bro.  Dupont  rose,  and  stated  his  doubts 
whether  these  facts  were  well  authenticated.  'As  the 
Masons,'  he  said,  *  were  principally  employed  in  the  forest 
and  the  quarry,  before  the  foundations  of  the  Temple  were 
laid,  it  was  morally  impossible  that  they  could  have  re- 
ceived their  wages  in  the  manner  indicated  by  the  tradi- 
tion; nor  could  the  process  have  been  adopted  at  all  in 
this  locality,  with  the  Ancient  Junior  Warden  guarding 


150  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

the  foot,  and  the  Ancient  Senior  Warden  the  summit  oi 
the  Staircase,  until  the  Temple  was  nearly  completed. 
Some  enthusiastic  Brethren,  as  I  am  informed,  have  been 
so  unwise  as  to  adopt  another  Rabbinical  fiction,  and 
think  that  because-  the  stones  were  hewn  and  squared  in 
the  quarries  of  Zeredatha — and  that,  consequently,  there 
was  neither  axe,  hammer,  or  tool  of  iron  heard  in  the 
house,  while  it  was  building — they  were  not  in  reality  so 
prepared  by  human  agency,  or  by  the  use  of  any  instru- 
ment whatever,  but  that  all  this  work  was  performed  by 
a  worm  called  Samir,  which  is  termed  by  these  Brothers 
the  Insect  Shermah.  The  legend,  although  too  absurd  for 
belief,  goes  on  to  say,  that  after  the  materials  \\vro  thus 
prepared,  they  conveyed  themselves,  without  assistance, 
to  Jerusalem,  and  were  put  together  by  angels.  This 
fable  is  noticed  by  Bishop  Patrick,  who  thinks  that  it 
might  probably  arise  from  the  conjecture  of  some  enthu- 
siastic person  who  did  not  understand  the  meaning  of 
the  word  Samir^  which  signifies  a  very  hard  stone,  by  the 
use  of  which  other  stones  were  cut  and  polished.  And 
the  emblem  undoubtedly  referred  to  the  peace  and  har- 
mony of  the  Christian  Church,  where  all  things  ought  to 
be  done  without  dispute  or  contention.' 

"I  have  been  somewhat  diffuse  on  this  point,"  the 
Square  continued,  "for  the  purpose  of  showing  you  how 
these  matters  were  handled  in  the  Lodges,  and  by  the 
Masons  of  the  eighteenth  century,  and  I  now  turn  to 
other  topics  of  a  more  stirring  character. 

UI  need  scarcely  tell  you,  my  dear  friend,  and  surely  I 
may  apply  that  appellation  to  you,  after  so  long  a  con- 
ference, that  I  had  the  advantage  of  being  present  at 
most  of  the  Grand  Lodges  (for  the  Master  of  our  Lodge 
was  generally  at  his  post),  whence  proceeds  my  universal 
knowledge  of  the  transactions  of  the  Craft.  And  I  am 
now  about  to  favour  you  with  a  fragment  of  secret  history 
respecting  our  worthy  R.  W.  M.,  of  which  the  Fraternity 
in  general  were  ignorant,  because  in  those  days  the 
transactions  of  the  Grand  Lodge  were  imperfectly  re- 
ported. 

"He  regularly  attended  the  Quarterly  Communica- 
tions, and,  in  his  capacity  of  Auditor  of  the  Grand 
Lodge,  had  discovered,  or  fancied  he  had  discovered  (for 
the  matter  was  never  fully  investigated)  some  trifling 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

discrepancy  in  the  Grand  Secretary's  accounts.  He 
whispered  his  suspicions  to  the  Grand  Master,  and  Bro. 
Hesletine  was  mortally  offended,  although  the  insinua- 
tion applied  to  him  only  by  reflection  from  his  subor- 
dinates. 

"  When  Achilles  was  affronted  at  the  siege  of  Troy," 
said  the  Square,  "he  withdrew  from  the  Grecian  host 
in  sullen  discontent.  Not  so  Bro.  Hesletine.  High  in 
moral  courage,  and  armed  with  the  triple  panoply  of  in- 
nocence, integrity,  and  uprightness  of  intention,  he  deter- 
mined to  break  a  lance  with  his  military  opponent  at  the 
very  earliest  opportunity ;  and  the  first  encounter  came 
off  at  the  Quarterly  Communication  in  May,  1780. 

"At  this  Grand  Lodge,  the  Duke  of  Manchester  an- 
nounced the  nomination  of  our  E.  W.  M.,  Capt.  G.  Smith, 
to  be  his  Junior  Warden;  when  the  Grand  Secretary 
entered  a  caveat  against  the  appointment,  on  the  ground 
that  he  was  already  a  IP.  G.  Master,  which  constituted, 
in  his  opinion,  a  disqualification  for  any  office  in  Grand 
Lodge. 

"Capt.  Smith  requested  the  G.  Secretary  to  point  out 
the  law  which  rendered  an  office  in  Grand  Lodge  unten- 
able with  a  Provincial  Office,  and  appealed  to  the  Breth- 
ren whether  the  act  of  impeding  the  Grand  Master  in  the 
exercise  of  his  undoubted  privilege  of  nominating  his 
subordinate  officers,  did  not  constitute  a  grave  offence, 
opposed  equally  to  the  dignity  of  Solomon's  Chair,  and 
the  courtesy  due  to  its  legitimate  occupant. 

"It  was  not  a  very  edifying  spectacle,"  interjected  the 
Square,  "  to  see  two  such  men  opposed  to  each  other  in 
a  Mason's  Lodge,  the  patented  abode  of  harmony  and 
peace.  The  G.  Secretary  was  unconvinced,  and  persisted 
in  his  objection,  because,  he  said,  it  is  anomalous  for  any 
one  individual  to  sit  in  Grand  Lodge  under  two  qualifi- 
cations; for,  if  such  a  practice  were  admitted,  he  might 
claim  to  have  two  votes  on  every  question,  one  in  each 
capacity,  which  would  be  totally  inconsistent  with  the 
general  laws  of  Masonry.  And,  he  added,  as  an  illustra- 
tion of  his  argument,  that  the  Grand  Master,  and  every 
Brother  now  present,  must  recollect  a  disgraceful  trans- 
action, which  occurred  only  a  few  years  ago,  arising  out 
of  this  very  questionable  practice. 

"The  case  was  this: — A  noble  Lord,  who  held  a  high 


152         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

office  in  Grand  Lodge,  had  a  younger  brother,  who  was 
desirous  of  a  seat  in  the  House  of  Commons.  Now,  it  so 
happened,  that  the  representation  of  a  certain  borough 
in  a  Province,  for  which  no  deputation  had  been  granted, 
became  vacant,  by  the  death  of  one  of  its  members.  The 
peer  immediately  sent  his  brother  down  as  a  candidate, 
and  procured  from  the  Grand  Master  his  own  appoint- 
ment as  the  Prov.  G.  M.  In  that  capacity,  he  convened 
a  P.  G.  Lodge  in  the  borough  ;  converted  all  the  princi- 
pal Masons  who  had  votes  into  P.  G.  Officers  ;  gave  them 
a  sumptuous  dinner,  and  promised  them  a  masonic  gala 
on  a  future  day.  Thus,  by  an  assumed  urbanity  and 
kindness,  he  reaped  golden  opinions  from  all  the  Breth- 
ren, and  his  relative  was  triumphantly  returned  in  the 
face  of  a  strenuous  opposition. 

"  His  lordship's  zeal  cooled  down  after  his  purpose  had 
been  accomplished ;  and  the  promised  masonic  gala  was 
exchanged  for  an  election  ball,  which  so  disgusted  the 
Brethren,  and  offended  the  public,  that  Masonry  became 
a  by-word  and  term  of  reproach,  equivalent  to  treachery 
and  insincerity,  and  was  almost  extinguished  in  the  pro- 
vince for  several  years. 

"  '  Such  proceedings,'  Bro.  Hesletine  continued,  *  re- 
flect disgrace  on  the  Grand  Lodge,  when  the  offender 
happens  to  be  one  of  its  officers,  because  the  Constitu- 
tions expressly  forbid  any  Brother,  bow  high  soever  may 
be  his  rank,  to  use  Freemasonry  as  a  political  engine  for 
any  purpose  whatever.  We  all  know,  M.  W.  Sir,'  the 
G.  Secretary  concluded,  *  that  his  lordship's  rank  pre- 
vented any  official  notice  to  be  taken  of  the  circum- 
stances, but  it  created  great  dissatisfaction,  and  was 
universally  condemned  by  the  Fraternity,  which  his 
lordship  held  in  sovereign  contempt,  after  he  had  made 
Freemasonry  subservient  to  his  own  private  interests.' 

"This  being  a  strong  case,"  said  the  Square,  "  Capt. 
Smith  offered  to  relinquish  the  P.  G.  Mastership,  if  it 
should  be  the  opinion  of  the  Grand  Lodge  that  the  two 
offices,  vested  in  the  same  person,  is  inconsistent  with 
the  provisions  of  masonic  law.  Bro.  Hesletine's  objec- 
tion, however,  was  overruled  by  the  Grand  Master  him- 
self, who  observed  that,  if  the  law  propounded  by  the  G. 
Secretary  were  sound,  a  Grand  officer  would  be  debarred 
from  accepting  the  Chair  of  a  private  Lodge,  which, 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         153 

equally  with  the  office  in  question,  gives  a  vote  in  Grand 
Lodge.  He  proceeded,  therefore,  to  appoint  Capt.  Smith 
his  Junior  Grand  Warden,  without  requiring  him  to 
surrender  his  Provincial  office.  But,  at  the  subsequent 
Communication,  the  G.  Secretary  announced  that  Capt. 
Smith  had  relinquished  the  office  of  a  Grand  Warden ; 
and  it  was  immediately  resolved,  as  a  standing  rule,  that 
it  should  in  future  be  considered  a  violation  of  the  laws 
of  this  Society  for  any  Brother  to  hold  more  than  one 
office  in  the  Grand  Lodge  at  the  same  time.3 

"  This  sparring  was  only  preparatory  to  a  more  serious 
contest  in  Grand  Lodge  on  the  9th  of  April,  1783,  under 
a  president  who  was  not  particularly  favourable  to  Capt. 
Smith's  views,  the  Earl  of  Effingham  acting  for  H.  R.  H. 
the  Duke  of  Cumberland,  G.  M.  It  appears  that  Capt. 
Smith  had  written  or  compiled  a  Book  on  Masonry,  and 
was  desirous  of  publishing  it  under  the  sanction  of  the 
Grand  Lodge.  A  motion  to  that  effect  was  brought 
forward  in  his  absence  by  a  friend,  when  Bro.  Hesletine 
rqse  and  observed  that  the  application  had  been  already 
entertained  by  the  Committee  of  Charity,  which,  after 
mature  deliberation,  had  resolved  that  it  be  recommended 
to  the  Grand  Lodge  to  withhold  its  sanction  to  the  work. 

"This  reported  decision  of  the  Committee,"  the  Square 
continued,  "  brought  on  an  animated  debate,  in  which 
several  members  of  the  Grand  Lodge  took  a  part.  In 
answer  to  a  question  from  the  Acting  Grand  Master,  the 
G.  Secretary  admitted  that  no  particular  objection  had 
been  stated  against  the  book ;  but  that  the  sanction  of 
the  Committee  had  been  refused  on  the  general  principle 
that,  considering  the  flourishing  state  of  the  Lodges, 
where  regular  instruction  and  suitable  exercises  are  ever 
ready  for  all  Brethren  who  zealously  aspire  to  improve 
themselves  in  masonic  knowledge,  new  publications  are 
unnecessary  on  a  subject  which  books  cannot  teach. 
*  Indeed  '  he  continued,  'the  temptations  to  authorship 
have  effected  a  strange  revolution  of  sentiment  since  the 
year  1720,  when  ancient  manuscripts  were  destroyed  by 
scrupulous  Brethren  to  prevent  their  appearance  in  a 
printed  Book  of  Constitutions.' 

"The   Deputy   Grand    Master,   Bro.   Rowland   Holt, 

3  M.  S.  penes  me.     See  also  Noorth.  Const.,  p.  336. 


154        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

stated,  that,  in  his  opinion,  *  masonic  literature  ought  to 
be  encouraged ;  and  that  it  was  the  interest,  and  would 
be  the  soundest  policy  of  Freemasonry,  to  keep  pace 
with  the  increasing  intelligence  of  the  age.' 

"  Bro.  Burlington  observed,  that  all  masonic  publica- 
tions were  trash. 

"  The  Deputy  Grand  Master  replied,  rather  sharply, 
*  But  surely  our  worthy  Brother,  in  his  sweeping  con- 
demnation, will  make  an  exception  in  favour  of  Ander- 
son's Defence,  and  the  useful  publications  of  Calcott, 
Hutchinson,  Dunckerley,  and  Preston.' 

"'I  make  no  exceptions  whatever,'  responded  Bro. 
Burlington,  '  for  I  never  read  a  masonic  book  in  my  life, 
and  I  trust  I  never  shall.' 

"  '  Then,'  asked  the  D.  G.  M.,  '  how  can  you  consci- 
entiously pronounce  a  book  to  be  trash,  which  you  con- 
fess you  have  never  read  ?' 

"Bro.  Burlington  found  himself  in  a  dilemma,  and, 
being  unable  to  return  a  direct  answer  to  this  home 
question,  he  cut  the  knot,  by  exclaiming,  '  I  hate  all 
masonic  writings!'  and  turned  the  subject  from  himself 
by  asking  Bro.  Goldsmith  what  masonic  books  he  had 
read. 

"  Bro.  Goldsmith  replied  that  he  thanked  God  he  had 
read  nothing  but  the  Book  of  Constitutions  and  the 
Ahiman  Rezon. 

"O!  Bro.  Goldsmith,  Bro.  Goldsmith,"  the  Square 
interjected,  "what  a  discourteous  Lapsus  lingua!  Had 
you  forgotten  that  the  Ahiman  Rezon  was  written  ex- 
pressly to  denounce  the  very  Grand  Lodge  in  whose 
presence  you  were  standing  when  the  ungracious  thanks- 
giving was  uttered ! 

"The  Hon.  Washington  Shirley,  a  friend  of  Capt. 
Smith's,  then  rose,  and  entered  into  a  long  defence  of  the 
proposed  work,  stating  that  it  contained  little  more  than 
an  amplification  of  the  subjects  which  had  been  already 
promulgated  by  Bro.  Calcott,  under  the  sanction  of  the 
Grand  Master,  and  nine-tenths  of  the  Craft  throughout 
England ;  that,  as  all  other  sciences  were  freely  and 
copiously  illustrated  for  the  general  benefit  of  mankind, 
he  thought  Freemasonry  ought  to  enjoy  the  same  advan- 
tages. A  mine  of  gold,  without  workmen  or  tools,  he 
observed,  will  yield  no  returns ;  and  a  science,  without 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         155 

books,  is  equally  worthless.  He  felt  morally  certain, 
that  genuine  masonic  writings  would  serve  to  disabuse 
the  public  mind,  by  dissipating  the  absurd  conjectures 
which  were  fostered  and  encouraged  by  the  catch-penny 
trash  that  had  been  spread  over  the  face  of  the  country 
under  the  pretext  of  explaining  the  secrets  of  the  Order ; 
and  he  thought  that,  as  the  favour  of  a  Grand  Lodge 
sanction  had  been  awarded  to  Calcott  and  Hutchinson, 
it  ought  not  to  be  withheld  from  Capt.  Smith,  who  was 
an  intelligent  member  of  Grand  Lodge,  and  an  active  and 
successful  P.  G.  Master. 

"  The  G.  Secretary  replied  somewhat  acrimoniously," 
said  the  Square,  "  and  ventured  to  utter  a  few  oblique 
sarcasms  against  Bro.  Smith,  which  the  Acting  Grand 
Master  observed  would  have  been  much  better  omitted : 
at  the  same  time  declaring  himself  to  be  unfriendly  to 
all  publications  on  the  subject  of  Masonry.  And  the 
question  being  formally  put  from  the  Throne,  was  de- 
cided in  the  negative. 

"  Bro.  Smith,  however,  published  his  book  without  the 
sanction,4  and  the  edition  was  speedily  exhausted ;  and, 
at  the  following  anniversary,  Bro.  Hesletine  resigned  the 
G.  Secretaryship. 

"This  decision,"  continued  the  Square,  uas  might  be 
expected,  had  an  unfavourable  effect  on  the  interests  of 
masonic  literature ;  and  nothing  was  published  for  some 
years  but  a  few  single  Sermons  and  Orations.5  The 
G.  Secretary,  however,  embraced  this  opportunity  of 
bringing  out  his  new  Book  of  Constitutions,  which  had 
been  entrusted,  a  few  years  ago,  to  the  editorship  of  Bro. 
Noorthouck,  as  I  have  already  had  occasion  to  mention. 
The  manuscript  being  now  ready,  it  was  submitted  to 

4  "  On  the  Use '  and  Abuse  of  Freemasonry.      By  Bro.  Capt.  G. 
Smith,  P.  G.  M.  for  Kent"     London.  Kearsley,  1783. 

5  A  Sermon  preached  at  Maidstone  before  the  P.  G.  Lodge  of 
Kent,  on  the  Festival  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist,  by  the  Kev.  Bro. 
Uelanoy,  1781.     An  Oration  delivered  in  Christ  Church,  Middleton, 
1783.      A  brief  History  of  Freemasonry,  collected  from  the  most 
approved  authors ;  to  which  is  added  a  Concise  System  of  Christian 
Masonry,   by  J.  Johnson,   Grand  Tyler  and  Janitor  to  the  Grand 
Arch  Chapter.    London,  Moore,  1784.    On  Brotherly  Love,  delivered 
at  the  Constitution  of  the  Harmonic  Lodge,  No.  369,  Dudley,  by  the 
Rev.  John  Hodgets,  1784. 


156         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.  ' 

the  Hall  Committee  for  examination  and  correction ,  and 
at  length  it  received  this  unequivocal  sanction  : 

"  *  We,  the  Acting  Grand  Master,  Deputy  Grand  Mas- 
ter, Grand  Wardens,  and  other  Members  composing  the 
Hall  Committee,  do  hereby  recommend  this  present 
edition  as  the  only  Book  of  Masonic  Constitutions  for 
the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons;  disallowing  all  other 
publications  that  have  not  the  sanction  of  the  Grand 
Lodge ;  and  do  warn  all  the  Brethren  against  being  con- 
cerned in  writing,  printing,  or  publishing  any  such  book 
in  their  respective  Lodges,  as  they  shall  be  answerable 
to  the  Grand  Lodge.'6 

"  This,  I  believe,"  added  the  Square,  "  is  the  only 
authentic  book  that  you  have  on  the  general  history  of 
Masonry.7  And  subsequent  investigations  into  the  true 
philosophy  of  Speculative  Masonry  have  shown  that  it 
conveys  a  very  imperfect,  and,  in  many  respects,  erroneous 
view  of  the  subject.  We  are  not  a  society  of  Operative, 
but  of  Speculative  Masons.  As  well  might  a  student  in 
divinity  hope  to  find  evidences  of  the  Christian  system 
of  religion  in  the  moral  writings  of  Seneca  or  Plato, 
as  the  masonic  tyro  expect  to  derive  a  clear  notion 
of  Symbolical  Masonry  by  the  study  of  Noorthouck's 
improved  edition  of  Anderson's  History.  Both  would 
experience  the  mortification  of  disappointment.  I  have 
heard  the  observation  of  our  most  learned  Masons  on 
this  production,  and  the  prevailing  opinion  was,  that  Bro. 
Noorthouck  ought  to  have  added,  at  the  least,  a  slight 
sketch  of  Speculative  Masonry  to  Dr.  Anderson's  Opera- 
tive History,  as  the  intelligence  of  the  times  required 
some  additional  illustrations.  For  this,  added  to  the 
increasing  popularity  of  Freemasonry,  demands  that  a 
clear  and  comprehensive  history  of  the  Order  should  be 
published  by  authority,  explaining,  in  a  rational  and 
intelligent  manner,  without  any  affectation  of  secresy, 


6  The  above  sanction  was  signed  by  Effingham,  A.  G.  M. ;  Rowland 
Holt,  D.  G.  M. ;  W.  Shirley,  S.  G.  W. :  W.  Carrington,  J.  G.  W. , 
and  countersigned  by  the  Grand  Secretaries. 

7  "Constitutions  of  the  Ancient  Fraternity  of  Free  and  AccepUd 
Masons ;  containing  their  History,  Charges,  Regulations,  &c. ;  first 
compiled,  by  order  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  from  their  old  Records  and 
Traditions.     A  new  edition,  revised,  enlarged,  and  brought  down  to 
the  year  1784,  by  John  Noorthouck."     London,  Rozea.  1784. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         157 

its  origin  and  design,  the  utility  of  its  mysteries,  and  the 
moral  and  religious  references  of  its  symbolical  con- 
struction ;  for  it  is  a  standing  disgrace  to  the  Craft  that 
nothing  has  been  done  for  the  last  seventy  years  to 
remedy  its  glaring  defects. 

"  Towards  the  close  of  Bro.  Smith's  term  of  office," 
continued  the  Master's  Jewel,  "  and  he  occupied  the 
chair  of  the  Lodge  for  four  successive  years — a  very  rare 
practice,  by-the-bye — several  of  our  Members  assembled 
in  the  Lodge  unusually  early;  and  some  of  them  made 
their  appearance  'before  the  Tyler  had  arranged  the  furni- 
ture, and  disposed  the  jewels  on  the  cushion  of  each 
officer's  desk  or  altar.  I  had  not  been  placed  on  the 
closed  Bible  in  the  East  more  than  five  minutes,  before  I 
became  aware  that  something  out  of  the  common  way 
was  in  agitation,  but  what  it  was  I  could  not  make  out. 
There  were  present  several  visitors  of  distinction  in  the 
Craft,  and  little  knots  of  four  or  five  Brethren  each  were 
formed  in  different  parts  of  the  room,  speaking  to  one 
another  in  a  suppressed  tone  of  voice. 

"  '  We  have  no  time  to  lose,'  said  one. 

"  'O,  as  for  that,'  said  another,  'all  is  prepared.' 

"  'We  shall  make  a  night  on't,'  responded  a  third. 

"'Is  he  apprised  of  the  circumstance?'  asked  Bro. 
Dagge. 

"  '  Certainly  not,'  was  the  answer. 

"  Then  in  another  part  of  the  room  I  heard  Sir  John 
Aubyn  say,  'But  what  if  he  should  not  come?' 

"  '  No  fear  of  that,'  was  the  reply  of  the  Hon.  Wash- 
ington'Shirley. 

"  'Then  you  intend  to  surprise  him,'  Bro.  Dunc- 
kerley  asked,  as  he  stood  carelessly  with  his  elbow  on  the 
mantelpiece. 

"'That  is  the  cream  of  the  joke,'  said  Bro.  Cres- 
pigny;  'and  I  believe  he  has  not  the  slightest  suspicion 
of  the  treat  which  is  prepared  for  him.' 

"Again  a  third  group  were  expressing  their  delight  at 
the  scheme,  whatever  it  might  be;  and  I  heard  the 
Deputy  Grand  Master,  Bro.  Rowland  Holt,  ask  who 
were  the  originators  of  the  measure. 

"'Brothers  Shirley,  Hesletine,  and  Crespigny,'  was 
the  reply. 


158        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

"'How?'  said  the  D.  O.  M.  <  Then  I  presume  Bro- 
thers Hesletine  and  Smith  are  friends  again?' 

"  *  Perfectly  so,'  Bro.  Vanderstop  answered ;  *  are  they 
not  Brothers'/1 

"  *  I  am  glad  to  hear  it  with  all  my  heart,1  responded 
Bro.  Holt,  'and  I  hope  they  will  always  continue  to 
be  so,  for  they  are  both  valuable  and  efficient  Masons.' 

"What  all  this  secret  preparation  was  about,  I  could 
not,  for  the  life  of  me,  guess,"  said  the  Square,  "and  I 
began  to  fear  something  had  happened  which  might 
compromise  our  hitherto  irreproachable  R.  W.  M.,  and 
disturb  his  popularity.  While  these  thoughts  were 
passing  across  my  mind,  I  heard,  in.  a  remote  corner  of 
the  room,  some  Brother  observe,  in  rather  a  loud  tone  of 
voice — 

"  'What  glorious  spirits  he'll  be  in  when  the  commu- 
nication is  made !' 

"Ha!  ha!  ha!  was  repeated  in  full  chorus;  and  the 
laughter  became  general  when  the  joke  was  repeated. 

During  these  detached  conversations,  which  continued 
a  few  minutes  longer,  Ca-pt.  Smith  entered  the  room,  his 
good-humoured  countenance  beaming  with  radiant  smiles, 
which  diffused  happiness  and  joy,  like  a  gush  of  sunshine 
breaking  through  an  atmosphere  of  clouds.  Greeting  a 
few  of  the  Brethren  as  he  passed,  he  walked  straight  up 
to  the  pedestal,  and  gave  the  report.  The  Brethren 
were  clothed  and  seated  round  the  table  in  a  few  minutes, 
and  the  R.  W.  M.  opened  the  Lodge.  The  minutes 
having  been  read,  and  no  particular  business  appearing 
on  the  books,  the  Master  was  in  the  act  of  rising  to 
deliver  the  Lecture,  when  he  was  superseded  by  Bro. 
Shirley,  who  said,  addressing  the  chair, — 

"'R.  W.  Sir,  before  you  commence  the  business  of 
the  Lodge,  I  would  request  the  favour  of  a  brief  hearing, 
as  I  have  somewhat  to  communicate,  which  I  trust  will 
neither  be  disagreeable  to  you,  or  any  of  the  Brethren 
present.' 

'"He  resumed  his  seat,"  said  the  Square,  "and  Bro. 
Smith  replied,  in  his  usual  abrupt,  but  exceedingly 
facetious  manner,  'Ho,  Bro.  Shirley,  are  not  you  out  of 
order?' 

"  'I  am  afraid,'  Bro.  Shirley  responded,  'I  am  rather 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         159 

out  3f  order,  but,  R.  W.  Sir,  I  hope  it  will  be  consid- 
ered an  excusable  trespass,  when  the  nature  of  my  com- 
munication is  known.' 

"  'Go  on,  go  on,'  was  heard  in  the  wesf. 

"  'Order,  order,  chair,'  from  the  Brethren  in  the  south. 

"  The  R.  W.  M.  then  said,  that  althoagh  Bro.  Shirley's 
interruption  was  somewhat  irregular,  yet  he  should  be 
most  happy  to  hear  his  proposition,  and  was  sure  that 
the  Brethren  would  entertain  it  with  becoming  dignity 
and  seriousness. 

"Bro.  Shirley  having  thus  obtained  the  sanction  of 
the  chair,  proceeded  to  say,  that  as  it  was  the  evening 
of  the  last  Quarterly  supper  during  the  presidency  of 
their  worthy  and  popular  R.  W.  M.,  a  few  Members  of 
the  Lodge,  himself  included,  as  a  mark  of  their  esteem, 
and  a  grateful  admission  of  the  talent  by  which  he  had 
contributed  so  essentially  to  the  general  interests  of  the 
Society,  have  resolved  to  provide  a  supper  at  their  own 
expense.  (Hear,  hear,  from  all  parts  of  the  Lodge.) 
And  to  invite  Bro.  Smith,  and  all  the  Members  present,  to 
favour  us  with  their  company,  hoping  that  the  R.  W.  M. 
will  honour  the  banquet  still  further  by  retaining  the 
chair,  and  presiding  over  it  with  that  tact  and  good- 
humour  which  have  uniformly  characterized  the  social 
meetings  of  the  Lodge  when  celebrated  under  his  super- 
intendence. And  if,  R.  W.  Sir,  you  will  condescend  to 
accept  our  offering,  we  further  pray  that,  as  there  is  no 
particular  business  on  the  books,  you  will  dispense  with 
the  Lecture,  and  close  the  Lodge  early,  as  supper  is  to  be 
on  the  table  at  eight  o'clock. 

"  This  speech  was  loudly  applauded  from  every  quarter 
of  the  Lodge.  When  the  acclamations  had  subsided, 
Bro.  Smith  rose  and  said — 

"  Ho,  friend  Shirley,  are  you  there  with  your  bears? 
Well,  then,  be  it  according  to  you  wish.  I  thank  you 
for  the  honour,  and  by  George,  our  King,  we'll  make  a 
night  on't.  If  this  is  to  be  the  game,  away  with  grave 
business;  we'll  be  merry  for  the  nonce,  if  we  never  be 
merry  again.  As  the  old  song  says — 

*  '  Adieu,  sober-thinking  detraction  and  spleen ; 
You  ought  to  be  strangers  where  Masons  convene 
Come,  jest,  love,  and  laughter,  ye  sociable  throng ; 
You're  free  of  the  Lodge,  and  to  Masons  belong.' 
8 


360         T&E  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

"  The  Lodge  was  accordingly  closed  at  eight,  and  the 
Brethren  adjourned  to  the  supper-room,  on  receiving  an 
intimation  from  the  Tyler,  that  the  work-shop  was  deco- 
rated, the  stalls  placed,  the  materials  spread,  a  rough  ashlar 
on  each  rag,  the  platforms  set,  the  stars  shining  brilliantly, 
barrels  of  strong,  weak,  and  yellow  powder  ready  for  charg- 
ing the  cannons,  and  everything  prepared  for  immediate 
mastication. 

"  The  gallant  captain  was  now  in  his  element.  He 
was  ceremonially  ushered  into  the  supper-room  by  the 
D.  G.  M.  and  Bro.  Dunckerley,  and  took  his  place 
amidst  the  cheers  and  plaudits  of  the  Brethren.  Every- 
thing was  in  order,  as  the  Tyler  had  announced,  and  a 
sumptuous  affair  it  proved  to  be.  When  the  Brethren 
were  seated,  Grace  was  said  by  Bro.  the  Rev.  Daniel 
Turner,  of  Woolwich,  in  the  following  form: — 

"  '  O  Source  of  purest  light !  O  Lord  of  glonj  !  Great, 
incomprehensibly  great,  are  thy  handiworks !  Thou  gavest 
us,  at  the  building  of  the  Temple,  wisdom,  strength,  and 
beauty  !  Thou  gavest  us  vitality,  pleasure,  meat,  and  drink. 
To  Thee,  therefore,  be  glory,  honour,  praise,  and  thanks.'' 

"  This  was  the  signal  for  action ;  and  immediately  the 
clatter  of  swords  and  pickaxes,  tyles  and  trowels,  was  heard, 
and  the  process  of  mastication  began. 

"  'I'll  thank  you  to  hand  the  cement?  says  one. 

"  'A  little  of  that  sand?  says  another. 

"  'Tyler,  top  the  luminaries,  but  do  not  extinguish  the 
stars?  a  third  called  out. 

"  '  Give  me  the  yellow  powder,  I  want  to  fire  a  cannon? 
said  the  D.  G.  M. 

"  '  Rough  ashlar  here,'  a  Brother  demanded. 

"  'Remove  this  platform  ;8  it  is  in  my  way,'  shouted  an 
obese  Brother,  from  whose  brow  the  perspiration  fell  in 
a  copious  shower,  while  he  transferred  the  choicest  of 
the  materials  from  the  workshop  to  his  stomach;  in  the 
perpetration  of  which  he  evinced  a  pertinacity  that 
displayed  a  mechanic  perfect  in  the  art. 

"  'Bro.  Sequiera,  do  be  so  obliging  as  to  favour  me 
with  that  barrel  of  strong  powder?  said  Bro.  Duncker- 
ley. 

8  See  the  Historical  Landmarks,  vol.  ii.,  p.  101,  for  an  explanation 
of  these  terms. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         161 

"  *  Change  this  knife  and  fork,'  shouted  a  Bi  other  from 
the  West. 

There  was  a  dead  silence ! ! ! 

###### 

"'A  fine!  a  fine!'  said  the  Chairman.  *  Who's  the 
delinquent  ?' 

"He  was  soon  discovered;  the  fine  satisfied;  and  the 
supper  proceeded  through  its  courses,  as  suppers  gener- 
ally do,  until  the  rage  of  hunger  was  appeased.  Then 
the  previous  sounds,  like  the  sudden  subsidence  of  a 
nurricane,  diminished  into  a  peaceful  stillness,  inter- 
rupted only  by  an  indistinct  murmur  of  voices,  as  adjacent 
Brethren  conversed  together  in  whispers.  The  closing 
Grace  was  then  delivered: — 

"  lGod  be  praised!  Thou  hast  thought  on  us  this  day 
also  !  Be  praised  for  this  day's  blessings.  Oh,  protect  us 
Fatherly,  according  to  thy  grace  and  power,  in  happiness  and 
in  sorrow,  in  all  our  ways,  and  bless  this  night.'' 

After  this  thanksgiving,  the  barrels,  amply  provided 
with  strong  and  fulminating  powder,  were  duly  arranged ; 
the  cannons  were  set  in  order;  the  battle  began  in  good 
earnest ;  and  Bro.  Smith  proved  himself  to  be  an  expe- 
rienced commander. 

"  The  R.  W.  M.  issued  his  orders,  that  the  cannons 
should  be  charged  in  line,  and  each  placed  in  advance  of 
the  tyle.  He  then  gave  one  report,  and  proposed  the 
first  toast. 

"  'The  King,  God  bless  him!' 

"  One  stroke  with  the  gavel,  and  the  Brethren  rose  to 
their  feet. 

" '  To  arms ! 

" '  Advance  your  cannons ! 

"  'Discharge  your  cannons  by  three! 

'"Fire! 

"'Good  fire! 

"'Fire  all!     Quick! 

*#**## 

" '  Ground  your  arms ! 
" '  Advance  your  swords ! 
'"Poise  your  swords! 
'"Salute  with  swords! 

****** 

"'Swords  at  rest!' 

"Acclamations>,  three  times  repeated. 


162         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

"I  could  tell  you,"  continued  the  Square,  "  what  toasts 
were  drank,  what  songs  were  sung,  and  what  speeches 
were  made  (though  there  was  very  little  speechifying — 
it  was  all  a  running  conversation,  sparkling  with  wit 
and  good  humour),  but  the  detail  would  not  advance  my 
design  in  communicating  to  you  the  peculiarities  01 
masonic  custom  in  the  eighteenth  century.  It  is  true, 
the  above  ceremonies  cannot  be  fairly  classed  amongst 
the  legitimate  usages  of  English  Masonry,  because  they 
were  practised  only  by  a  few  eccentric  Masters,  whose 
popularity  would  bear  them  out  in,  what  may  be  termed, 
an  innovation.  But  they  were  occasionally  sanctioned 
by  the  presence  of  the  best  and  gravest  of  Masons  in  the 
land.  The  carnivals  of  our  Brethren  in  Scotland  at  the 
same  period,  were  generally  enlivened  by  a  game  of 
High  Jinks.9  On  the  continent  the  above  customs  were 
absolutely  enjoined  as  an  indispensable  part  of  the  system, 

9  Which  I  take  the  liberty  of  describing  by  an  extract  from  Bro. 
Sir  Walter  Scott's  "Guy  Mannering"  (vol.  iv.,  p.  56,  Ed.  1825). 
"  Mr.  Pleydell  was  a  lively,  sharp-looking  gentleman,  with  a  profes- 
sional shrewdness  in  his  eye,  and,  generally  speaking,  a  professional 
formality  in  his  manners.  But  this,  like  his  three-tailed  wig  and 
black  coat,  he  could  slip  off  on  a  Saturday  evening,  when  surrounded 
by  a  party  of  jolly  companions,  and  disposed  for  what  he  called  alti- 
tudes. Upon  the  present  occasion,  the  revel  had  lasted  since  four 
o'clock,"  and,  at  length,  under  the  direction  of  a  venerable  compotator, 
who  had  shared  the  sports  and  festivity  of  three  generations,  the 
frolicsome  company  had  begun  to  practise  the  ancient  and  now  for- 
gotten pastime  of  High  Jinks.  This  game  was  played  in  several 
different  ways.  Most  frequently  the  dice  were  thrown  by  the  com- 
pany, and  those  upon  whom  the  lot  fell,  were  obliged  to  assume  and 
maintain,  for  a  time,  a  certain  fictitious  character,  or  to  repeat  a 
certain  number  of  fescennine  verses  in  a  particular  order.  If  they 
departed  from  the  characters  assigned,  or  if  their  memory  proved 
treacherous  in  the  repetition,  they  incurred  forfeits,  which  were  either 
compounded  for  by  swallowing  an  additional  bumper,  or  by  paying  a 
small  sum  towards  the  reckoning.  At  this  sport  the  jovial  company 
were  closely  set  when  Mannering  entered  the  room.  Mr.  Counsellor 
Pleydell,  such  as  we  have  described  him,  was  enthroned  as  a  monarch, 
in  an  elbow-chair,  placed  on  the  dining-table,  his  scratch  wig  on  one 
side,  his  head  crowned  with  a  bottle- slider,  his  eye  leering  with  an 
expression  betwixt  fun  and  the  effects  of  wine,  while  his  court  around 
him  resounded  with  such  crambo  scraps  of  verse  as  these : — 

Where  is  Gerunto  now  ?  and  what's  become  of  him? 
Gerunto's  dead,  because  he  could  not  swim,  &c.,  &c. 

Such,  0  Themis,  were  anciently  the  sports  of  thy  Scottish  chil 
dren !" 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         163 

and  were  consequently  exercised  in  every  foreign  Lodge. 
In  the  Adoptive  system,  the  lady  Masons  fell  cheerfully 
into  the  scheme,  and  during  their  hours  of  relaxation, 
practised  fche  following  formula.  The  Lodge  was  called 
Eden;  the  degrees,  a  ladder;  the  door,  a  barrier;  the 
glasses,  Lamps;  wine,  red  oil;  water,  white  oil;  bottles, 
pitchers,  &c.  And  they  applied  it  thus :  Trim  your  lamps, 
meant  fill  your  glasses ;  drinking  was  termed,  snuff  your 
lamps;  fire,  lift  up  by  Jive,10  &c.  But  to  return. 

"  The  evening  passed  away  as  most  convivial  evenings 
do  pass,  although  with  a  little  more  license  than  is  cus- 
tomary with  you,  for  there  wras  a  freedom  in  the  enjoy- 
ments of  that  period  which  is  now  unknown.  Song, 
toast,  and  repartee  constituted  the  staple  uf  the  enter- 
tainment. The  following  chorus  was  sung  by  all  the 
Brethren  present  more  than  once;  and  the  convivialities 
terminated  at  Low  Twelve  with  the  National  Anthem. 

*  He  that  will  not  merry  merry  be, 

With  a  generous  bowl  and  a  toast, 
May  he  in  Bridewell  be  shut  up, 
And  fast  bound  to  a  post. 

4  Let  him  be  merry  merry  there, 
And  we'll  be  merry  merry  here ; 
For  who  can  know  where  we  shall  go 
To  be  merry  another  year  ] 

*He  that  will  not  merry  merry  be, 

And  take  his  glass  in  course, 
May  he  be  obliged  to  drink  small  beer, 
Ne'er  a  penny  in  his  purse. 
4  Let  him  be  merry,  &c. 

4  He  that  will  not  merry  merry  be, 
With  a  company  of  jolly  boys, 
May  he  be  plagued  with  a  scolding  wife 
To  confound  him  with  her  noise. 
4 Let  him  be  merry,  &c.' 

"  During  the  presidency  of  Capt.  Smith,  it  was  in  the 
gloomy  month  of  November,  and  the  very  Lodge  which 
succeeded  the  above  gala,  if  my  memory  does  not  deceive 
me,"  continued  my  amusing  companion,  "he  opened  the 
proceedings  with  peculiar  gravity,  and  I  was  certain 
something  extraordinary  had  occurred  to  disquiet  his 
mind.  Accordingly,  after  the  usual  routine  of  business 
had  been  disposed  of,  my  anticipations  were  amply  veri- 

10  Vid.  Hist.  Landm.,  p.  111. 


164        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

fied;  for  he  made  a  communication  which  was  received 
by  the  Brethren  with  displeasure  and  regret.  He  told 
the  Lodge  that  he  had  received  a  letter  from  a  Brother  at 
Aix-la-Chapelle,  informing  him  that  the  Fraternity  were 
placed  in  a  situation  of  great  difficulty  and  danger  by  the 
denunciations  of  the  priests ;  and  imploring  advice  and 
assistance  from  the  English  Craft.  *  It  appears,'  he 
added,  'that  they  have  been  denounced  from  the  altar 
under  the  character  of  villains,  cut- throats,  sorcerers, 
and  incarnate  fiends ;  and  one  of  the  priests,  whose  name 
is  Louis  Grumman,  assured  his  hearers  that  fire%from 
heaven,  like  that  which  destroyed  the  cities  of  the  plain, 
in  the  days  of  Abraham  and  Lot,  would  soon  descend  to 
exterminate  these  imps  of  darkness  for  similar  crimes. 

"'These  denunciations,'  he  continued,  'produced  such 
a  powerful  effect  on  the  populace,  that  every  person 
who  is  suspected  of  being  a  member  of  the  gentle  Craft, 
is  greeted  in  the  public  streets  with  hootings,  yells,  and 
execrations ;  pelted  with  mud  and  stones,  and  otherwise 
so  grossly  insulted  that  the  Masons  are  afraid  to  proceed 
about  their  usual  business,  lest  they  should  become  the 
victims  of  a  blind  bigotry,  which,  like  its  author,  goes 
about  seeking  whom  it  may  devour ;  for  the  priests  had 
threatened  every  person  with  excommunication  who 
should  consort  with  them,  lodge  them,  or  afford  them 
any  countenance  whatever.' 

"  There  was  a  solemn  silence  in  the  Lodge  for  some 
minutes'  duration,"  said  the  Square,  "after  this  afflicting 
intelligence  had  been  communicated;  when  Bro.  Row- 
land Holt,  the  D.  Gr.  M.,  rose,  and  Said  that  he  had 
received  an  official  document  on  the  same  subject,  with 
these  additional  particulars ;  that  the  chief  magistrate  of 
Aix-la-Chapelle,  under  the  pretext  of  appeasing  the 
priests,  had  promulgated  the  Pope's  mandate  against 
Freemasonry,  which  denounced  the  severest  penalties  on 
all  persons  who  should  either  attend  a  Lodge,  or  favour 
the  Fraternity  in  the  slightest  degree.  This  increased 
the  evil;  for  the  priest,  instead  of  being  appeased, 
launched  his  fulminations  with  additional  fury,  and 
excited  the  people  to  madness,  by  rushing  through  the 
streets,  crucifix  in  hand,  and  conjuring  them,  by  -that 
holy  symbol,  to  assist  him  in  the  extirpation  of  those 
devils  in  human  shape,  who  were  the  enemies  and 
scourge  of  Christianity,  and  under  the  immediate  con- 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  165 

demnation  of  God.*1  Bro.  Holt  announced  his  intention 
of  bringing  these  untoward  circumstances  under  the  con- 
sideration of  the  Grand  Lodge,  although  he  expressed 
his  doubts  whether  that  body  would  be  induced  to  inter 
fere,  in  the  absence  of  any  competent  authority  to  render 
its  mediation  efficacious. 

"During  Capt.  Smith's  Mastership,"  the  Square  con- 
tinued, "the  celebrated  masonic  impostor,  Balsamo,  or, 
as  he  styled  himself,  Count  Cagliostro,  flourished.  He 
had  already  attempted  to  make  London  the  scene  of  his 
charlataneries,  but  without  success.  His  revelations 
respecting  the  Egyptian  Masonry,  which  you  will  not 
forget  was  Androgyne,  were  discredited,  and  he  was 
obliged  to  return  to  the  place  from  whence  he  came.  On 
the  continent  he  was  more  successful,  and  found  many 
credulous  and  munificent  patrons.  His  pretensions,  how- 
ever, becoming  at  length  suspected,  he  resolved  once 
more  to  try  his  fortune  in  the  English  metropolis;  and 
he  inserted  a  public  circular  in  the  'Morning  Herald,' 
dated  Nov.  1,  1786,  in  which  he  proposed  to  introduce 
into  England  his  new  system  of  Masonry,  and  invited 

11  These  outrages  happened  in  the  eighteenth  century,  when  the 
majority  of  the  people  of  every  nation  in  Europe  were  without  the 
advantage  of  education.  But  what  are  we  to  think  of  the  following 
denunciation,  pronounced  ex  cathedra  by  a  Romish  Archbishop,  in 
the  month  of  November,  1851 — the  age  of  schools  and  colleges,  and 
mental  culture?  "Let  me.  admonish  you  again,  as  I  have  done 
before,"  says  the  Archbishop,  in  his  celebrated  Pastoral,  "both  by 
word  and  in  writing,  that  nothing  can  be  more  fatal  to  charity  than 
those  secret  societies  which  have  been  unhappily  projected  through- 
out many  parts  of  Ireland.  I  have  before  declared  to  you — and  I 
beg  of  the  clergy  in  every  parish  to  repeat  the  admonition  continu- 
ally— that  all  those  who  are  banded-  together  by  oath  in  those  wicked 
societies,  under  whatever  name  they  may  be  called,  and,  also,  all 
Catholics  who  join  in  the  Society  of  FREEMASONRY,  are  subjected  to 
the  penalty  of  excommunication ;  cut  off  as  rotten  branches  from  tho 
Church  of  God,  and  if  they  die  in  this  deplorable  state,  doomed  to 
eternal  perdition.  It  is  a  sad  calamity  that  a  system  so  pernicious 
in  its  effects,  and  so  hostile  to  Christian  charity,  should  be  tolerated 
or  encouraged  in  any  district.  PAUL  CULLEN,  ARCHBISHOP  AND 
PRIMATE  OF  ALL  IRELAND."  I  would  ask  Primate  Cullen  how  it 
happens  that,  after  such  a  display  of  virtuous  indignation  against 
Freemasonry  as  a  secret  society,  he  should  give  a  tacit  approbation, 
by  preserving  a  mysterious  silence  on  the  subject,  to  the  Vehmc 
Gerichte  of  liibbonism,  whose  infamous  emissaries  are  spread  ovei 
the  whole  face  of  the  land,  and  commit  assassinations  with  perfect 
impunity. 


166  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

the  Craft  to  meet  him  for  that  purpose.  It  was  thus 
expressed : — 

"  *  To  all  True  Masons.  In  the  name  JEHOVAH.  The 
time  is  at  length  arrived  for  the  construction  of  the  New 
Temple  of  Jerusalem.  The  advertiser  invites  all  True 
Masons  to  meet  him  on  the  3rd  instant,  at  nine  o'clock, 
at  Reilly's  Tavern,  Great  Queen  Street,  to  form  a  plan 
for  levelling  the  foot-stone  of  the  true  and  only  Temple 
in  the  visible  world.' 

"  It  so  happened,"  said  the  Square,  "  that  our  Lodge 
met  on  the  evening  of  the  day  when  the  above  advertise- 
ment was  inserted ;  and  it  was  publicly  read  by  the  R. 
W.  M.,  who  observed  that  the  matter  was  warmly  taken 
up  by  all  the  Brethren  with  whom  he  had  conversed ; 
and  after  some  deliberation,  it  was  finally  agreed  that  a 
deputation  should  be  appointed  to  meet  him  at  the  time 
and  place  indicated,  which  should  consist  of  all  the  lead- 
ing Members  of  the  Lodge,  and  it  was  expected  that 
many  other  Brethren  would  be  present,  which  proved  to 
be  the  case. 

"Cagliostro  was  a  man  of  good  address,  and  of  un- 
bounded assurance.12  He  exhibited  all  the  cunning  he 

12  The  following  list  of  the  works  published  by  and  respecting  this 
impostor  may  be  acceptable.  "  Opissanie  prebuwania  w'  Mitawe  is 
westnaho  Kaliostro  ua  1779  god."  1788.  "  Fru  von  der  Recke 
Berattelse  om  Cagliostro's  magiske  Forsock  uti  Mitau  1779."  Stock- 
holm, 1793.  "  Cagliostro  demasque  a  Varsovie,  on  relation  authen- 
tique  do  ses  operations  alchimiques  et  magiques,  faites  dans  cette 
capitale  en  1780.  Par  un  temoin  oculaire."  Lausanne,  1786.  **  L»e 
Charlatan  demasque,  ou  les  aventures  et  exploits  du  Cointe  de 
Cagliostro.  precede  d'une  lettre  de  M.  Le  Comte  de  Mirabeau." 
Francfort,  1786.  **  Des  Grafen  Mirabeau  Schreiben  uber  Lavater  und 
Cagliostro."  Leipzig,  1786.  "Confession  du  Comte  de  Cagliostro, 
avec  1'histoire  de  ses  voyages  en  Russie,  &c."  Cairo,  1787.  "  Memo- 
ria  sulla  dimora  del  Signer  Cagliostro  in  Roveredo.  In  Italia,  1789 
Liber  memorialis  de  Caleostro  dum  esset  Roborati.  L'arrivee  du 
fameux  Cagliostro,  1789."  "Compendio  della  vita  e  delle  geste  di 
Giuseppe  Balsamo,  deuominato  il  Comte  Cagliostro,  che  si  e  estratto 
dal  processo  contro  di  lui  formato  in  Roma,  1'anno  1790.  In  Roma, 
nella  Stamperia  della  Rev.  Camera  Apost.  1791."  "Vie  de  Joseph 
Balsamo,  connu  sous  le  nom  de  Comte  Cagliostro,  extraite  de  la  pro- 
cedure instruite  contre  lui  a  Rome,  en  1790."  Paris  et  Strasbourg, 
1791.  "  Testament  de  mort,  et  declarations  faites  par  Cagliostro,  de 
la  secte  des  Illumines,  et  se  disaiit  chef  de  la  Loge  E^yptienne,  eon- 
damne  a  Rome."  Paris,  1791.  "Life  of  Count  Cagliostro,  with  his 
Trial  before  the  Inquisition  for  being  a  Freemason."  London,  1791. 
These  are  only  a  few  of  the  works  which  were  published,  particularly 
in  Germany,  respecting  this  very  clever  and  successful  impostor. 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  167 

was  master  of,  propounded  his  plan  in  a  flourishing 
speech,  boasted  of  his  knowledge  of  the  hermetic  science, 
the  philosopher's  stone,  and  elixir  of  life ;  referred  to  the 
Czarina  and  the  Grand  Sultan  as  his  most  eminent 
patrons,  extolled  his  researches  into  futurity,  through  the 
medium  of  animal  magnetism,  and  exhibited  a  variety  ol 
legerdemain  tricks  in  proof  of  the  extraordinary  powers 
conferred  by  his  system  of  Masonry,  which  imposed  on  a 
few  Members  of  the  deputation,  and  astonished  others. 
But  he  had  encountered  talent  superior  to  his  own,  and 
in  the  end  he  was  effectually  exposed,  and  obliged  to 
leave  the  country.  His  life  was  afterwards  published, 
his  schemes  were  laid  bare,  and  he  came  to  an  untimely 
end." 


CHAPTER  X. 

SECRETS. JOHN  NOORTHOUCK. 

1785—1790. 


41 A  large  man  he  was  with  eyen  stepe, 
A  fairer  burgeis  is  ther  non  in  Chepe. 
Bold  of  his  speche,  and  wise,  and  wel  y  taught, 
And  of  manhood  him  lacked  righte  naught." 

CHAUCER. 

"  All  the  plans  of  Freemasonry  are  pacific.  It  co-operates  with 
our  blessed  religion  in  regulating  the  tempers,  restraining  the  passions, 
sweetening  the  dispositions,  and  harmonizing  the  discordant  interests 
of  men ;  breathes  a  spirit  of  universal  love  and  benevolence ;  adds  one 
thread  more  to  the  silken  cord  of  evangelical  charity  which  binds  man 
to  man;  and  seeks  to  entwine  the  cardinal  virtues  and  Christian 
graces  in  the  web  of  the  affections,  and  the  drapery  of  the  con- 
duct."— HARRIS. 

"  Writers  on  Masonry,  by  the  overwarmth  of  their  zeal,  are  some- 
times betrayed  into  the  use  of  hyperbolical  epithets,  and  superfluous 
effusions  of  panegyric  on  particular  occasions,  that  to  readers,  who 
are  not  of  the  Fraternity,  appear  extravagant,  and,  of  course,  counter- 
act their  intention.  If  our  Institution  be  of  a  laudable  nature,  there 
is  less  occasion  to  arrogate  the  reward  of  praise  to  ourselves ;  for  so 
long  as  a  tree  is  known  by  its  fruits,  the  world  will  do  us  justice."- 
NOORTHOUCK. 


"  I  am  old  enough  to  remember  the  celebrateed  Dean 
Swift,"  continued  the  Square,  in  that  agreeable,  gos- 
sipping  tone  to  which  I  had  become  accustomed,  "  and  I 
think  I  have  already  alluded  to  a  humorous  effusion  of  his 
spleen  against  the  Order  in  which  I  have  the  honour  to 
be  the  representative  of  justice  and  equality.  But  it  is 
not  my  present  intention  to  refer  to  that  exquisite  pro- 
duction of  his  satirical  genius.  He  wrote  a  book  to  which 
he  prefixed  the  ludicrous  title  of  A  Tale  of  a  Tub,  which 
gave  mighty  offence  to  his  superiors,  although  I  really  do 
not  know  why  it  should  have  had  that  effect — they  did 
not  understand  it,  perhaps — -n  which,  amongst  other 
severe  hits  at  his  own,  as  well  as  other  churches,  he 
represents  John  Calvin  as  saying,  in  reference  to  his 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         169 

father's  will,  i.  e.,  the  Bible,  'Gentlemen,  I  will  prove  this 
very  skin  of  parchment  to  be  meat,  drink,  and  clothes;  to  be 
the  philosopher's  stone,  and  the  universal  medicine.  In  con- 
sequence of  which  raptures,  he  resolved  to  make  use  of  it 
in  the  most  necessary,  as  well  as  the  most  paltry  occasions 
of  life.  He  had  a  way  of  working  it  into  any  shape  he 
pleased,  so  that  it  served  him  for  a  nightcap  when  he 
went  to  bed,  and  for  an  umbrella  in  rainy  weather.  He 
would  lap  a  piece  of  it  about  a  sore  toe;  or- when  he  had 
fits,  burn  two  inches  under  his  nose ;  or  if  anything  lay 
heavy  on  his  stomach,  scrape  off  and  swallow  as  much  of 
the  powder  as  would  lie  on  a  silver  penny.  They  were 
all  infallible  remedies.' 

"You  will  not  fail  to  perceive,"  said  the  Square,  "  that 
there  is  an  abundance  of  matter  for  reflection  in  the 
above  passage.  It  conveys  the  intelligible  moral,  that 
our  First  Great  Light  contains  a  present  remedy  for 
every  affliction  incident  to  the  lot  of  man.  And  as  a 
curious  coincidence,  I  must  further  inform  you  that  I 
once  heard  Bro.  Preston  make  a  similar  remark  respecting 
the  universal  application  of  Fremasonry ;  not  in  the  same 
words,  I  admit,  for  they  are  widely  different,  but  convey- 
ing precisely  the  same  meaning.  '  Masonry,'  he  said, 
*  gives  real  and  intrinsic  excellency  to  man,  and  renders 
him  fit  for  the  duties  of  society.  It  strengthens  the. 
mind  against  the  storms  of  life,  paves  the  way  to  peace, 
and  promotes  domestic  happiness.  It  meliorates  the 
temper,  and  improves  the  understanding;  it  is  company 
in  solitude,  and  gives  vivacity,  variety,  and  energy  to 
social  conversation.  In  youth,  it  governs  the  passions, 
and  employs  usefully  our  most  active  faculties ;  and  in 
age,  when  sickness,  imbecility,  and  disease  have  humbled 
the  corporeal  frame,  and  rendered  the  union  of  soul  and 
body  almost  intolerable,  it  yields  an  ample  fund  of  com- 
fort and  satisfaction.' 

"  I  submit  to  your  consideration,"  the  Square  continued, 
"  whether  this  character  of  Masonry  is  not  indelible,  and 
of  universal  application  in  all  cases  and  circumstances  of 
life,  whether  of  prosperity  or  adversity.  Speak  not !"  he 
continued,  seeing  I  was  about  to  reply  to  his  appeal — 
"answer  not!  Be  dumb,  or  you  will  make  me  so!  and 
I  will  communicate  a  very  interesting  disputation  that 
once  occurred  in  our  Lodge,  which  will  abundantly  esta- 


170         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

blish  the  truth  of  the  above  text.  It  added  consi- 
derably to  the  reputation  that  Bro.  Noorthouck,  our 
new  K.  W.  M.,  had  already  attained  by  the  publication 
of  his  additions  to  Anderson's  History  of  Masonry. 

"Now,  I  consider  it  necessary,"  said  the  Master's 
Jewel,"4' to  correct,  in  limine,  any  misconception  which 
may  have  arisen  in  your  mind  respecting  this  eminent 
Brother,  from  the  part  he  took  in  the  dispute  between 
Bro.  Preston  and  the  Grand  Lodge.  His  conduct  on  that 
occasion,  I  freely  admit,  was  open  to  censure;  but  aJJ 
men  are  liable  to  view  things  in  a  distorted  light  when 
their  amour  propre  is  attacked.  Such  was  the  case  with 
Bro.  Noorthouck.  Notwithstanding  this,  he  was  a  clever 
and  intelligent  man,  and  an  expert  Mason;  and  his  elec- 
tion to  the  chair  of  our  Lodge  was  not  only  unanimous, 
but  carried  by  acclamation.  The  Members  were  glad  to 
enrol  on  their  list  of  Masters  the  historian  of  Masonry 
during  the  zenith  of  his  popularity. 

"Bro.  Preston,  as  I  have  already  communicated  to  you, 
was  under  a  cloud ;  but  his  Lectures  were  silently  making 
their  way  amongst  the  Fraternity,  and  Bro.  Noorthouck 
was  not  backward  in  doing  them  ample  justice,  as  will 
be  seen  by  the  scientific  conversation  or  dispute,  as  it 
may  be  more  properly  denominated,  between  himself  and 
Bro.  Mackintosh,  on  certain  particulars  which  were  at 
that  time  rejected  by  the  cowan,  and  considered  ques- 
tionable even  by  some  few  imperfectly  instructed  Masons. 
Bro.  Mackintosh  was  a  literary  man,  and  not  over  fond  of 
Masonry  at  that  time ;  but  the  arguments  of  the  E.  W.  M. 
were  so  effective,  that  he  subsequently  renounced  his 
errors,  arid  became  a  useful  and  honoured  Member  of  the 
gentle  Craft. 

"It  so  happened, "  said  the  Square,  "that  Bro.  Mack- 
intosh, who  was  desirous  of  testing  the  actual  literary 
capabilities  of  Masonry,  had  made  a  motion,  a  few  nights 
after  Bro.  Noorthouck  had  been  installed,  to  the  effect 
that  in  future  it  should  be  imperative  on  the  R.  W.  JVf.,  for 
the  time  being,  to  deliver  an  original  Lecture  on  any  import- 
ant subject  connected  with  the  Degree  in  which  the  Lodge 
shall  be  open ,  at  least  once  in  every  quarter;  and  on  that 
night  no  other  business  shall  be  transacted.  The  motion  was 
duly  seconded;  and  after  considerable  discussion,  was 
negatived  by  a  large  majority. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         171 

"  When  Bro.  Mackintosh  next  appeared  in  his  place, 
which  was  not  until  three  or  four  months  after  his  mo- 
tion had  been  defeated,  there  happened  to  be  no  business 
of  any  importance  on  the  books,  and  the  R.W.  M.  took  the 
opportunity  of  asking  him  whether  he  was  correct  in 
supposing  that  he  had  expressed  an  opinion  at  a  previous 
Lodge,  that  Freemasonry  is  a  very  frivolous  pursuit,  and 
unworthy  the  profession  of  a  gentleman  and  a  scholar. 

"  '  You  have  construed  my  observation  correctly,'  Bro 
Mackintosh  replied,  'for  I  have  hitherto  found  nothing  in 
Masonry  which  appears  to  be  worthy  of  the  great  interest 
it  has  excited,  or  which  offers  an  adequate  return  for  the 
time  and  expense  that  are  often  devoted  to  its  exemplifi- 
cation by  some  of  our  Brethren,  from  whose  judgment 
and  intelligence  in  other  matters  I  should  have  expected 
better  things.' 

"  '  And  yet,'  the  R.  W.  M.  quietly  observed,  'you  have 
attended  the  Lodge  with  tolerable  regularity.  How  can 
this  be  accounted  for,  if  you  do  not  approve  of  our  pro- 
ceedings?' 

"  '  Why,  the  fact  is,'  he  said,  kindly,  'that  myself,  and 
a  few  other  Brethren  who  entertain  similar  opinions,  have 
made  a  point  of  attending  out  of  respect  to  our  late  R. 
W.  M.  and  yourself.  We  are  convinced  that  you  both 
believe  Freemasonry  to  contain  something  more  than 
appears  on  the  surface ;  and  we  are  willing  to  assist  you 
in  the  development  of  your  own  principles,  in  the  hope 
that  we  may  ultimately  discover  what  those  principles 
are,  and  share  with  you  in  the  benefits  which  they  pro- 
fessedly confer.  We  believe  that  we  may  possibly  be 
able,  at  some  future  time,  to  penetrate  the  mystery, 
although  I  am  free  to  confess  that  we  have  very  little 
hope  of  participating  in  the  enthusiasm  which  you  so 
uniformly  display.' 

"  '  It  was  on  this  account  that  I  was  desirous  of  coming 
co  an  explanation  with  you,'  returned  the  R.  W.  M. ;  '  for, 
as  it  is  unprofitable  to  fight  with  shadows,  I  am  extreme- 
ly anxious  to  learn  the  nature  of  the  objections  which 
are  urged  by  those  Brethren  who  act  with  you,  and  who 
form  a'small  minority  in  the  Lodge;  and  should  be  glad 
to  know  the  peculiar  causes  of  the  disappointment  of 
which  you  complain,  that  I  may  have  an  opportunity  of 
endeavouring  to  remove  them.' 


172        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

"'A  fair  proposal,'  Bro.  Mackintosh  rejoined,  and  I 
most  gratefully  accept  it." 

"The  Brethren,  you  may  be  certain,  were  very  atten- 
tive," said  the  Square,  "for  a  masonic  discussion  between 
two  such  men  was  likely  to  prove  exceedingly  interest- 
ing. Bro.  Mackintosh  then  stated  his  objections  seriatim. 

"  'In  the  first  place,'  he  said,  'we  are  dissatisfied  with 
the  Lectures;  and  are  somewhat  at  a  loss  to  discover 
their  real  object  and  tendency.  Vapid  and  uninteresting 
in  our  view  of  the  case,  they  appear  incapable  of  exciting 
either  a  desire  of  knowledge,  or  an  inclination  to  pursue 
investigations  which  are  so  feebly  recommended,  so  im- 
perfectly supported,  and  lead  to  no  profitable  result. 
They  profess  to  explain  our  peculiar  ceremonies,  but 
they  are  too  circumscribed  to  render  the  explanation 
satisfactory.  They  touch  on  an  abundance  of  subjects, 
but  always  leave  the  inquirer  in  the  dark.  They  excite 
expectations  which  are  never  realized  ;  and,  after  having 
been  at  the  trouble  of  sifting  them  completely,  and  come 
to  count  the  gains,  we  scarcely  find  a  single  grain  of 
wheat  in  a  whole  bushel  of  chaff.' 

"'I  am  sorry  to  find  that  you  have  formed  such  a  low 
estimate  of  our  excellent  Lodge  Lectures,'  said  Bro. 
Noorthouck.  *  You  forget  that  they  are  merely  elemen- 
tary. They  were  never  intended  to  include  a  full  develop- 
ment of  the  system.  They  breathe  the  fresh  air  of  the 
most  early  ages,  and  contain  the  essence  of  those  pure 
principles  which  cemented  our  ancient  Brethren,  and 
gave  them  the  influence  they  undoubtedly  possessed  over 
the  uncultivated  spirits  of  the  age  in  which  they  lived. 
And  in  every  instance  where  the  Lectures  are  deficient 
in  modern  illustration,  it  is  the  admitted  duty  of  the 
Master  of  the  Lodge  to  amplify  and  explain  the  more 
occult  passages,  and  impart  to  the  Brethren  that  com- 
plete instruction  and  information  which  may  supply  what 
is  wanting,  and  make  difficult  and  doubtful  references 
clear  and  satisfactory.' 

"'  There  may  be  something  in  this,'  Bro.  Mackintosh 
replied ;  '  and,  accordingly,  whenever  you  have  announced 
an  intention  of  delivering  an  original  Lecture  on  some 
particular  symbol  or  portion  of  the  ritual,  you  may  have 
remarked  that  the  Lodge  is  always  well  attended ;  but  it 
occurs  so  seldom  that  we  do  not  derive  much  benefit 


THE  REVELATIONS  OP  A  SQUARE.        173 

from  the  practice.  Indeed,  what  with  our  numerous 
initiations,  passings,  raisings,  and  other  routine  business, 
I  scarcely  see  how  you  can  find  time  to  repeat  them 
more  frequently.  Now,  as  we  have  the  Lectures  tolera- 
bly well  up,  we  cannot  but  consider  our  attendance  at 
the  Lodge,  on  ordinary  occasions,  little  better  than  a 
waste  of  time,  because  we  merely  reiterate,  parrot-like, 
certain  words  and  forms  with  which  we  are  well  ac- 
quainted, and  with  but  very  slender  prospects  of  in- 
creasing our  masonic  knowledge.  It  was  for  this  reason 
that  I  submitted  my  motion  at  a  late  Lodge,  which  you 
defeated  by  a  majority  that  gave  great  umbrage  and 
dissatisfaction  to  many  worthy  Brethren  who  entertain 
the  same  opinions  as  myself.' 

"'My  dear  friend,'  said  the  R.  W.  M.,  'you  could  not 
surely  conceive  that  I  would  allow  such  a  measure  to 
become  a  standing  law  of  the  Lodge;  it  would  riot  only 
increase  the  onerous  nature  of  the  duties  attached  to  the 
chair,  but  prove  a  serious  obstruction  to  business.  These 
duties  are  plainly  specified  in  the  Constitutions  of  Ma- 
sonry and  the  Bye-Laws  of  the  Lodge,  and  the  Brethren 
are  incapable  of  imposing  any  additional  restrictions  on 
the  chair,  without  an  alteration  of  those  Laws.  This 
cannot  be  effected  by  the  simple  vote  of  a  private  Lodge. 
Place  a  notice  on  the  books  for  a  revision  of  the  Bye- 
Laws,  if  you  please ;  but  you  will  not  forget  that  all 
new  regulations  must  be  submitted  to  the  approval  of 
the  Grand  Master;  and  I  have  serious  doubts,  even  if 
you  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  majority  of  votes  for  that 
purpose,  whether  such  a  law  as  you  contemplate  would 
pass  the  ordeal.' 

"  'Then  throw  Masonry  to  the  dogs — I'll  none  on't!' 
replied  Bro.  Mackintosh,  petulantly;  'the  Lodge  Lec- 
tures are  but  chaff'  and  bran,  and  of  very  little  value.' 

" '  You  forget,  my  dear  Brother,'  interposed  the  R.  W. 
M.,  '  that  the  Lectures  only  profess  to  teach  the  elements 
of  the  science.  You  appear  to  view  our  ancient  Lec- 
tures through  a  false  and  uncertain  medium,  like  a  modern 
freethinker.  If  you  wish  to  penetrate  into  its  more 
abstruse  arcana,  you  must  meditate  with  seriousness  and 
attention  on  the  several  sections  and  clauses,  for  no  art  or 
mystery  can  be  attained  by  a  mere  knowledge  of  its  first 
rudiments.  All  human  learning  emanates  from  the 


174         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

alphabet,  but  you  will  not  contend  that  an  acquaintance 
with  the  alphabet  alone  will  make  you  a  wise  or  learned 
man.  The  elements  of  divinity  are  contained  in  the  short 
catechism  of  the  Church,  but  if  your  researches  are  not 
extended  beyond  that  summary  of  the  Christian  religion, 
you  will  never  become  a  sound  divine.  In  like  manner, 
the  Lodge  Lectures  contain  the  leading  principles  of 
Masonry ;  but  without  something  more  than  a  mere 
verbal  knowledge  of  these  indispensable  tests,  you  will 
never  be  esteemed  a  bright,  expert,  or  scientific  Mason.' 

"'This  may  be  all  very  true,'  said  Bro.  Mackintosh, 
'but  if  we  waive  this  objection,  which,  I  am  free  to 
confess,  is  not  insuperable,  still  the  general  drift  of  the 
Institution  is  a  mystery  which  I  am  not  able  to  pene- 
trate.' 

"'  Be  it  my  province  to  enlighten  you,'  Bro.  Noorth- 
ouck  replied.  '  You  profess  your  ignorance  of  the  real 
intention  of  Masonry ;  I  am  sorry  for  it.  Surely  you 
must  have  gathered  from  the  Lectures,  that  one  of  its 
most  important  objects  is  to  diffuse  amongst  mankind  a 
universal  principle  of  brotherly  love  and  mutual  good- 
will, accompanied  by  a  discriminating  application  of 
charity  to  worthy  and  deserving  persons,  when  reduced 
by  unmerited  misfortune  to  distress  and  indigence — first, 
to  the  Fraternity,  and  then  to  all  mankind.  If  these 
were  our  sole  pursuits,  Freemasonry,  so  far  from  being 
trifling  and  frivolous,  as  you  and  your  friends  appear  in- 
clined to  think,  is  worthy  of  the  patronage  and  support 
of  the  wise  and  good  amongst  every  denomination  of 
Christians.  You  remember  the  paragraph  in  our  Lodge 
Lectures  which  illustrates  the  principle  of  universal 
charity  ?  Very  well ;  if  there  be  any  truth  in  that, 
Freemasonry  cannot  be  surpassed  by  any  other  beneficent 
institution.' 

" '  I  am  well  acquainted  with  the  passage  to  which 
you  refer,'  Bro.  Mackintosh  observed,  *  and  as  I  have 
often  witnessed  its  active  operation,  I  am  willing  to  con- 
cede that,  in  this  respect,  Freemasonry  professes  no  more 
than  she  practises ;  and  I  make  this  concession  the  more 
readily  from  the  knowledge  which  I  possess  of  our  public 
institutions — where  a  princely  provision  has  been  made 
for  the  permanent  relief  of  destitute  orphans,  as  well  as 
for  the  temporary  assistance  of  distressed  Brethren.  But 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE         175 

stil.  all  this  might  be  done  without  any  affectation  of 
secrecy ;  for,  after  all,  our  real,  or,  as  you  would  say, 
peculiar  secrets  amount  to  nothing,  and  might.be  com- 
municated to  the  world  without  any  serious  inconveni- 
ence— without,  I  may  say,  either  injury  to  Masonry,  or 
benefit  to  mankind.' 

"  '  So,'  Bro.  Noorthouck  exclaimed,  4  you  are  offended 
at  our  secrecy  !  -  But,  tell  me — what  would  Freemasonry 
be — what  would  the  world  be,  without  its  secrets  ? 
What  are  the  councillor's  wig,  the  physician's  gold- 
headed  cane,  and  the  surplice  and  hood  of  the  reverend 
divine,  but  secret  symbols  of  the  mysteries  contained  in 
those  learned  professions  ?  What  are  the  arts  of  the 
painter,  the  sculptor,  and  the  designer,  but  secrets  which 
none  but  the  initiated  can  understand  ?  And  to  descend 
lower  in  the  scale,  what  are  the  goose  and  thimble  of  the 
tailor,  the  awl,  last,  and  end  of  the  manufacturer  of  boots 
and  shoes,  but  collateral  emblems  of  the  secrets  of  their 
respective  crafts,  which  neither  you  nor  I  are  able  to 
penetrate  ?  Secrets  !  Every  profession  and  every  trade 
has  its  peculiar  secrets,  as  well  as  Masonry.  What  was 
the  powerful  cause  which  produced  those  stupendous 
masses  of  building,  blazing  with  all  the  rich  results  of 
decorative  architecture,  that  adorn  every  corner  of  our 
land  ?  It  was  secrecy  !  The  Operative  Masons,  in  those 
days,  adopted  every  secret  measure — even  holding  their 
Lodges  in' the  crypts  of  cathedrals  and  churches — to  pre- 
vent the  great  principles  of  their  science,  by  which  their 
reputation  was  secured  and  maintained,  from  being  pub- 
licly known.  Even  the  workmen,  the  Apprentices  and 
Fellowcrafts,  were  unacquainted  with  the  secret  and  re- 
fined mechanism  which  cemented  and  imparted  the  trea- 
sures of  wisdom  to  the  expert  masters  of  the  art.  They 
were  profoundly  ignorant  of  the  wisdom  which  planned, 
the  beauty  which  designed,  and  knew  only  the  strength 
and  labour  which  executed  the  work.  The  pressure  and 
counterpressure  of  complicated  arches  was  a  secret  which 
the  inferior  workmen  never  attempted  to  penetrate. 
They  were  blind  instruments  in  the  hands  of  intelligent 
Master  Masons,  and  completed  the  most  sublime  under- 
takings by  the  effect  of  mere  mechanical  and  physical 
power,  without  being  abje  to  comprehend  the  secret  that 
produced  them  ;  without  understanding  the  nice  adjust- 


176  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

ment  of  the  members  of  a  building  to  each  other,  so  ne 
cessary  to  accomplish  a  striking  and  permanent  effect,  or 
without  being  able  to  enter  into  the  science  exhibited  in 
the  complicated  details  which  were  necessary  to  form  a 
harmonious  and  proportionate  whole.  And  so.  it  is  at 
the  present  day,  and  ever  will  be  so  long  as  the  Craft 
shall  endure.  No,  no,  my  dear  Brother,  you  must  not 
undervalue  our  secrecy,  because  you  know  that  of  all  the 
arts  which  Masons  possess,  silence  or  secrecy  constitutes 
their  peculiar  distinction.' 

"  <  But  tell  me  this,'  said  Bro.  Mackintosh,  *  of  what 
real  use  is  secrecy  ?  If  Freemasonry  be  truly  the  bene- 
ficent institution  which  you  so  loudly  proclaim,  and  I  do 
not  question  your  sincerity,  why  not  promulgate  it  pub- 
licly, that  all  mankind  may  participate  in  its  advantages  ? 
We  live  in  an  enlightened  age,  when  the  secret  springs 
of  every  art  and  science  are  clearly  explained  for  public 
edification.  The  day  of  mysteries  is  rapidly  passing  away, 
and  Freemasonry  must,  sooner  or  later,  become  a  subject 
of  open  investigation — why  not  anticipate  the  period,  and 
give  it  to  the  people  at  once  ?  I  ask  these  questions  that 
I  may  be  furnished  with  a  reply  when  I  hear  them 
pressed  by  others.  You  may  believe  me  when  I  add  that 
this  objection  is  more  frequently  advanced  than  you  can 
imagine,  and  I  confess  that  I  have  found  it  difficult  to 
satisfy  the  scruples  of  many  of  my  uninitiated  friends, 
who  have  pertinaciously  urged  it  upon  me. 

"  '  Is  that  all  ?'  replied  the  R.  W.  M.  *  Then  Twill 
endeavour  to  enlighten- you;  although  I  have  often  re- 
gretted that  some  of  our  obstinate  opponents  have  not 
tried  the  experiment  of  initiation.  They  would  lose 
nothing,  at  all  events;  and  it  would  be  a  positive  advan- 
tage to  their  argument  by  being  able  to  speak  from 
experience.  But  to  the  purpose.  You  infer,  if  I  under- 
stand you  rightly,  that  if  our  secrets  were  known,  they 
would  be  much  more  highly  estimated.' 

"  Bro.  Mackintosh  bowed. 

"  '  Now  I  entertain  very  serious  doubts  on  that  point,' 
continued  Bro.  Noorthouck,  warming  with  his  subject. 
' 1  think,  on  the  contrary,  that  they  would  lose  their 
interest,  and  not  be  prized  at  all.  It  is  the  expected 
secret  that  urges  the  candidate  forward,  like  a  well 
trained  spaniel  in  search  of  game.  The  excitement 


THE    REVELATIONS   OF    A    SQUARE.  177 

is  every  thing.  It  is  hope,  the  very  ground  and 
essence  of  our  nature.  No  secrets,  no  candidates ! 
I  would  ask  you,  in  return,  whether  the  secrets 
of  Nature  are  more  estimated  by  being  known  ?  Far 
from  it.  The  mechanism  of  the  growth  of  a  flower, 
which  was  a  profound  secret  to  our  grandfathers,  is  now 
becoming  familiar  to  every  boarding-school  Miss.  The 
nature  and  uses  of  electricity  were  a  secret,  until  Frank- 
lin furnished  mankind  with  a  key  t<5  its  elucidation ;  and 
the  day  will  come  when,  by  the  operation  of  a  series  of 
discoveries  and  improvements,  distant  nations  will  be 
able  to  communicate  with  each  other  in  an  incredible 
short  space  of  time.  The  secrets  of  geology  are  every 
day  becoming  more  clearly  developed.  Gas  and  steam, 
those  vast  and  irresistible  agents,  still  remain  amongst 
the  secret  operations  of  Nature  ;  but,  depend  upon  it,  the 
experience  of  another  age  will  work  wonders  upon  them. 
Yet  how  few  of  the  human  race  care  about  the  study  of 
those  sciences,  whose  secrets,  open  to  all,  are  really 
known  to  few,  although  destined  to  confer  permanent 
benefits  on  mankind.  The  multitude  profit  by  the  effect, 
but  disregard  the  cause.  So  in  Masonry.  The  Institu- 
tion is  daily  bestowing  innumerable  moral  blessings  on 
the  world ;  while  the  cause,  or  the  secret,  is  known  only 
to  a  very  small  number,  who  are  the  agents  by  whom  its 
benefits  are  disseminated.  But  as  I  see  Bro.  Inwood  in 
his  place,  he  will,  perhaps,  favour  the  Brethren  with  his 
opinion  on  this  important  subject.' 

"Bro.  Inwood,"  said  the  Square,  "immediately  rose 
from  his  seat,  and  said,  *  R.  W.  Sir,  I  am  so  well  con- 
vinced of  your  ability  to  defend  all  the  salient  points  of 
our  Order,  that  I  should  not  have  presumed  to  offer  my 
opinion  without  a^call  from  the  Chair.  In  obedience, 
however,  to  your  request,  I  will  refer  you  to  Holy  Writ 
for  a  confirmation  of  your  hypothesis  that  secrets  excite 
a  degree  of  attention  when  unknown,  which  vanishes 
when  they  are  openly  divulged.  St.  Paul  told  his  dis- 
ciples that  when  he  was  snatched  up  into  the  third 
heaven,  he  heard  iinspeaTcable  words,  which  it  was  not 
lawful  for  a  man  to  utter.  Now  it  is  quite  clear  to  me 
that  these  words  were  calculated  to  excite  the  curiosity 
of  the  disciples  to  the  highest  pitch.  And  that  they  did 
so,  we  are  furnished  with  abundant  evidence  to  prove. 


178  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

The  speculations  on  these  heavenly  words  were  incessant 
and  overwhelming,  and  the  disciples  of  different  classes 
attributed  to  them  diverse  and  contradictory  explana- 
tions. But  it  appears,  after  all,  that  the  Sacred  Name 
mm  was  the  principal  ingredient  in  this  impenetrable 
secret.  Now,  my  Brethren,  mark  the  consequence  ;  when 
St.  John  imparted  to  them  what  these  mysterious  words 
actually  were,  all  their  curiosity  subsided,  and  they  no 
longer  felt  any  interest  in  the  investigation,  although  it 
involved  the  solution  of  all  their  hopes,  both  in  this 
world  and  in  the  next.  So  of  the  secrets  of  Masonry — 
many  contradictory  speculations  have  been  urged  respect- 
ing their  nature  and  design,  as  witness  all  the  charlatan- 
arie  which  has  been  greedily  devoured  by  the  public  in 
spurious  revelations  where  they  were  said  to  be  disclosed ; 
but  if  they  were  really  made  known,  and  public  curiosity 
allayed,  they  would  be  disregarded,  like  those  stupendous 
phenomena,  the  revolutions  and  laws  of  the  heavenly 
bodies  ;  and  all  the  concurrent  benefits  which  they  diffuse 
throughout  the  entire  fabric  of  society,  would  gradually 
subside  ;  the  real  would  supersede  the  ideal,  and  Free- 
masonry, with  all  its  advantages  of  sociality,  brotherly 
love,  and  charity,  would  be  swallowed  up  and  lost.' 

"  *  Admitting  this  argument  to  be  sound,'  said  Bro. 
Mackintosh,  curtly,  '  how  does  it  happen  that  the  most 
lovely  part  of  our  species  are  formally  excluded  from 
these  benefits?' 

"'Aye,  there  it  is,'  replied  Bro.  Noorthouck,  getting 
somewhat  out  of  patience ;  'the  old  hackneyed  objec- 
tion, if  objection  it  be,  which  is  greatly  to  be  doubted. 
It  would  be  more  correctly  termed  a  recommendation. 
What  do  the  ladies  care  about  being  excluded  from  con- 
vivial societies,  usually  held  at  taverns  and  public-houses? 
The  exclusion  on  their  part  is  voluntary.  What  lady — 
except,  perhaps,  the  ladies  of  the  pave — would  consent 
to  appear  amongst  the  members  of  a  law  or  medical 
society  for  instance?  at  a  saturnalia  of  barristers,  or  at 
any  of  our  well-frequented  clubs  ?  Even  at  a  domestic 
dinner  party?  her  sense  of  delicacy  incites  her  to  retire 
to  the  drawing-room,  while  the  male  portion  of  the 
guests  take  their  wine  with  the  host.  Where  is  the 
female  of  any  class  that  would  not  be  ashamed  of  being 
seen  amongst  the  Gormagons,  the  Pre-adamites,  the 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  179 

Grand  Kaiheber,  or  any  other  of  the  legion  of  convivial 
societies  which  exist  in  this  great  metropolis,  carousing 
with  the  members  in  an  atmosphere  redolent  of  the 
fumes  of  beer  and  tobacco  ?  Pshaw !  any  decent  female 
would  revolt  from  such  indelicate  contamination;  and 
the  simple  proposition  of  such  a  degrading  exposure  of 
her  person,  would  be  considered  the  highest  insult  you 
could  offer.  No,  sir,'  he  continued,  'the  ladies  would 
hate  us  if  we  were  to  insist  on  their  company  at  the 
Lodge.  I  admit  that,  a  few  years  ago,  certain  empirical 
works  on  Masonry  were  read  with  avidity  by  a  certain 
class  of  females  on  the  continent,  who  were  anxious  to 
penetrate  the  great  secret,  if  possible,  without  regard  to 
the  means;  and  there  was  even  an  androgyne  Order 
formed  for  the  admission  of  women ;  and  the  excitement 
was  kept  up  by  means  of  balls,  feasts,  and  other  amuse- 
ments; but  few  were  found  to  embrace  the  offer  of 
becoming  acquainted  with  the  secret  by  such  unauthorized 
practices.' 

"  '  There  may  be  something  in  what  you  say,'  replied 
Bro.  Mackintosh,  *  for  I  confess  that  although  I  have  fre- 
quently heard  my  female  acquaintances  say  that  they 
are  dying  to  know  the  secret,  I  never  perceived  any 
anxiety  on  their  part  to  mix  with  the  members  of  the 
Lodge.  And  certainly  our  late  experiment  of  a  masonic 
ball,  in  imitation  of  the  example  afforded  by  our  con- 
tinental Brethren  and  Sisters  of  the  Adoptive  Lodges, 
which  I  implicitly  believed  would  have  the  effect  of  con- 
ciliating our  female  friends,  and  inducing  a  more  favour- 
able opinion  of  our  pursuits,  was  a  decided  failure;  for 
we  were  not  honoured  with  the  presence  of  any  ladies 
of  good  standing  in  society ;  which  rather  favours  your 
hypothesis  that  they  have  no  particular  anxiety  to 
assemble  in  our  Lodges,  or  share  in  our  festive  celebra- 
tions.' 

"  *  I  am  glad  to  hear,'  Bro.  Noorthouck  replied,  *  that 
you  think  these  pollutions  (for  I  cannot  give  masonic 
dancings  a  more  favourable  designation)  are  alien  to  the 
principles  of  the  Craft;  because  you  were  one  of  the 
parties  who  forced  our  late  masonic  ball  upon  me.  But 
I  hope  you  will  do  me  the  justice  to  admit  that  I  opposed 
it  to  the  utmost,  as  an  unmasonic  proceeding ;  and  only 
gave  way  in  compliance  with  the  decision  of  a  majority 


180        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

of  votes.  But  it  would  be  a  manifest  injustice  to  charge 
the  unhappy ,  consequences  of  this  disgraceful  proceeding 
on  Masonry,  or  to  contend  that  the  Order  is  responsible 
for  the  results  of  a  false  step  taken  in  direct  violation 
both  of  its  principles  and  its  laws.  This  ill-advised 
measure  has  caused  divisions  amongst  ourselves  which 
will  be  very  difficult  to  heal,  and  pointed  the  finger  of 
scorn  against  the  Institution  in  a  manner  very  little  to 
its  credit.  In  a  word,  every  evil  has  occurred  which  I 
predicted,  and  several  others,  of  which  I  never  dreamed.' 

"  *  On  this  point,'  Bro.  Mackintosh  rejoined,  '  we  are 
now  of  one  mind.  Experience  has  convinced  me  that 
such  celebrations  are  inexpedient,  to  say  the  least  of 
them;  and  I  intend  to  propose,  at  some  early  Lodge, 
that  they  be  never  repeated.  I  am  quite  sure  that  a 
majority  of  the  Brethren  will  carry  out  the  vote ;  for 
most  of  us  are  utterly  disgusted  with  the  result  of  the 
experiment.' 

"  *  So  truth  prevails  in  the  end,'  the  R.  W.  M.  replied. 
*  The  charges  of  frivolity  which  are  pertinaciously  pre- 
ferred to  the  prejudice  of  our  Institution  by  the  outward 
world,  the  cowan,  and  the  profane,  are  sufficiently 
numerous  already ;  let  us  not  add  to  them  by  the  adop- 
tion of  an  amusement  which  would  give  our  adversaries 
all  the  advantage  they  require  to  turn  the  tide  of  popular 
feeling  decidedly  against  us.  It  would,  indeed,  afford  a 
public  confirmation  of  those  vague  reports  which  accuse 
us  of  frittering  away  our  valuable  time  in  a  round  of 
trifling  and  childish  amusements,  and  devoting  ourselves 
to  the  temptations  of  luxury,  and  the  indulgence  of 
sensual  passions.  Even  Bro.  Heidegger,  the  celebrated 
arbiter  clegantiarum  of  fashion,  the  very  prince  and  high 
priest  of  saltation,  and  enjoying  the  favour  of  the  mon- 
aron — at  the  moment  of  his  greatest  influence  with  his 
patron  the  Duke  of  Richmond,  the  Grand  Master  of 
Masons,  and  intrusted  with  the  sole  arrangement  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  Festivals,  would  not  have  dared  to  venture 
on  a  proposition  so  hostile  to  the  grave  and  serious  prin- 
ciples of  the  Order  as  a  masonic  ball.  Dancing  is  a 
solecism  irreconcileable  with  any  one  point,  part,  or 
secret  connected  with  the  Institution.  If  once  the  Fra- 
ternity is  so  weak  and  inconsiderate  as  to  give  them- 
selves up  to  such  frivolous  and  unworthy  pursuits,  they 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  183 

may  bid  farewell  to  Masonry ;  and,  uniting  themselves 
with  the  d-dcvanl  Gormagons,  may  dance  under  the 
green-wood  tree.' 

"  'Your  observations  are  perfectly  correct,'  said  Bro. 
Franco,  who  rose  the  instant  Bro.  Noorthouck  had 
resumed  his  chair,  '  English  Masonry  knows  nothing  of 
a  masonic  ball.  It  is  an  exotic  of  foreign  growth,  and 
will  never  thrive  on  British  soil.  It  may  be  in  character 
with  the  continental  Lodges  of  .Adoption,  which  admit 
females  to  join  in  the  celebration,  but  it  can  never  pre- 
vail to  any  extent  in  a  country  where  they  are  excluded 
on  principle  from  participating  in  the  privileges  of  the 
Order.  Consider,  K.  "W.  Sir,  the  marked  indelicacy  of 
such  a  practice.  The  Apron  is  used  as  the  emblem  of 
separation  between  the  intellectual  and  carnal  portions 
of  the  human  body  ;  and,  therefore,  when  exhibited  at  a 
masonic  ball,  it  affords  (not  to  say  invites)  each  lady,  in 
a  contre-dance,  a  favourable  opportunity  of  calculating, 
with  perfect  accuracy,  the  exact  point  where  the  intel- 
lectual ends,  and  the  carnal  begins.  In  France  this  may 
not  create  an  unfavourable  sensation,  because  the  morals 
of  the  people  are  becoming  extremely  lax ;  but  in 
England,  where  correctness  of  demeanour  and  rectitude 
of  conduct  are  the  sole  credentials  of  admission  into 
decent  society,  such  an  example  is  contaminating  beyond 
all  calculation.  Good  heavens !  is  it  possible  that  the 
Free  and  Accepted  Mason  can  be  found  who  is  capable 
of  subjecting  the  refined  feelings  of  an  English  woman 
to  the  degradation  of  a  scrutiny  like  this !' 

"  Bro.  Franco  was  warm,"  said  the  Square  ;  "  but  per- 
fectly correct.  Freemasonry  has  no  precedent  for  a 
masonic  ball;  and  I  confess  I  felt  grieved  when  the 
experiment  was  determined  on  by  the  vote  of  a  majority 
of  the  Brethren.  Fortunately  the  attempt  proved  abor- 
tive, and  was  never  repeated.  To  proceed. 

"  'Well,'  Bro.  Mackintosh  quietly  observed,  '  nothing 
further  need  be  said  on  the  subject ;  for  the  question  will 
now  be  finally  settled  so  far  as  regards  the  members  of 
our  Lodge.  But  you  will  not,  I  am  afraid,  so  easily  dis- 
pose of  the  objection,  that  the  prayers  of  the  Lodge  are 
offered  up  without  any  reference  to  the  Redeemer  of 
mankind.  As  Christians,  we  cannot  well  understand 
how  this  omission  has  been  suffered  to  exist  for  so  many 


182  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

centuries  amongst  those  who  profess  themselves  follow 
ers  of  a  crucified  Saviour.' 

"  'I  am  surprised,'  the  R.  W.  M.  replied,  'that  a  man 
of  your  sense  and  discrimination  should  have  been  led  to 
adopt  this  weak  and  puerile  argument ;'  for  he  was  some- 
what piqued  at  the  pertinacity  of  Bro.  Mackintosh ;  '  but,' 
he  continued,  '  as  we  are  now  embarked  in  the  discussion 
of  principles,  I  will  again  take  the  liberty  of  calling  on 
Bro.  Inwood  to  answer  this  objection,  as  it  applies  more 
particularly  to  his  profession  than  to  mine.' 

"  Bro.  Inwood  replied  without  hesitation,"  said  the 
Square:  *' '  It  is  true,  R.  W.  Sir,  that  the  Actual  Name, 
Jesus  Christ,  is  not  mentioned  in  our  present  formulas, 
as  they  have  been  revised  by  Bro.  Preston,  but  why  he 
should  have  omitted  the  primitive  invocation  in  his  new 
prayer,  I  am  at  a  loss  to  conjecture,  as  it  was  always 
used  by  our  ancient  Brethren ;  and,  therefore,  Bro. 
Mackintosh  is  mistaken  in  supposing  that  the  omission 
had  existed  for  centuries.  But,  waiving  this  argument, 
have  you  never  considered  that  the  Messiah  is  wor- 
shipped in  Christian  countries  under  a  great  variety  of 
significant  appellations,  all  of  which  refer  to  JEHOVAH 
or  CHRIST  ?  In  the  Old  Testament  he  is  called  the  Voice 
of  the  Lord,  the  Angel  of  the  Covenant,  the  Wonderful, 
the  Councillor,  the  Mighty  God,  the  Everlasting  Father, 
the  Prince  of  Peace,  the  Creator,  the  Sun  of  Righteous- 
ness, the  First  and  the  Last,  Emanuel,  a  Shepherd,  a 
Rock,  the  Branch,  &c.,  &c.  And  in  the  New  Testament 
he  has  the  corresponding  titles  of  Emanuel,  a  Shepherd, 
a  Door,  a  Rock,  the  Advocate,  Alpha  and  Omega,  the 
Sun  of  Righteousness,  the  Builder  and  Maker  of  the 
Universe,  a  Vine,  the  East,  the  Morning  Star,  &c. ;  under 
any  of  which  appellations  he  may  be  legitimately  wor- 
shipped. Now  I  would  ask  Bro.  Mackintosh  in  what 
Name  or  names  our  invocations  are  usually  made  ?' 

"  '  We  commonly  use  that  of  T.  G.  A.  0.  T.  U.,'  said 
Bro.  Mackintosh. 

"  *  Right.  And  according  to  the  teaching  of  Masonry, 
who  is  he?' 

"  « Him  that  was  placed  om  the  pinnacle  of  the  Tem- 
ple, at  Jerusalem.' 

"  'Which  was  Jesus  Christ,  for  no  other  person  was 
ever  placed  in  that  perilous  situation  ;  and  He,  if  we  may 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        183 

believe  the  Scriptures,  was  the  Creator  or  Architect  of 
the  Universal  World;  or,  as  St.  Paul  expresses  it,  by 
whom  and  for  whom  all  things  were  made.  But  we  also 
use  the  titles  of  MOST  HIGH  and  JEHOVAH,  both  being 
the  names  of  Christ ;  and  amongst  the  diversity  of  appel- 
lations bestowed  on  him  in  Holy  Writ,  I  am  decidedly  of 
opinion  that  the  choice  of  our  ancient  Brethren  was  most 
judicious.^  But  more  effectually  to  convince  Bro.  Mack- 
intosh of  his  error,  I  may  add,  that  in  the  earliest  masonic 
prayers  on  record,  the  invocation  was  invariably  made  in 
the  actual  name  of  Jesus  Christ.  These  original  prayers 
have  been  discontinued  only  a  very  few  years ;  that  is, 
from  the  time  when  Hutchinson  introduced  the  following 
well  known  passage  into  his  Lectures,  which  were  pub- 
licly and  officially  sanctioned  by  the  Grand  Lodge. 
Speaking  of  the  action  of  the  Third  Degree,  he  says, — 
The  Great  Father  of  all,  commiserating  the  miseries  of 
the  world,  sent  his  only  Son,  who  was  innocence  itself, 
to  teach  the  doctrine  of  salvation  ;  by  whom  man  was 
raised  from  the  death  of  sin  unto  a  life  of  righteousness; 
from  the  tomb  of  corruption  unto  the  chambers  of  hope ; 
from  the  darkness  of  despair  to  the  celestial  beams  of 
faith  ;  and  not  only  working  for  us  this  redemption,  but 
ntaking  with  us  the  covenant  of  regeneration,  whence  we 
are  become  the  children  of  the  Divinity,  and  inheritors  of 
the  realms  of  heaven.  9 

"  '  We  Masons,'  Bro.  In  wood  continued,  describing 
the  deplorable  state  of  religion  under  the  Jewish  law, 
'  speak  in  figures,  and  say, — Her  tomb  was  in  the  rubbish 
and  filth  cast  forth  of  the  Temple,  and  Acacia  wove  its 
branches  over  her  monument,  «*«;««  being  the  Greek 
word  for  innocence,  or  being  free  from  sin,  implying  that 
the  sins  and  corruptions  of  the  old  law,  and  the  devotees 
of  the  Jewish  altar,  had  hid  religion  from  those  who 
sought  her,  arid  she  was  only  to  be  found  where  innocence 
survived,  and  under  the  banner  of  the  Divine  Lamb; 
and,  therefore,  as  we  ourselves  profess  to  be  distinguished 
by  our  Acacia,  we  ought  to  be  true  Acacians  in  our  re- 
ligious faith  and  tenets.  Again ;  the  acquisition  of  the 
doctrines  of  redemption  is  expressed  in  the  typical  cha- 
racter of  Euramen  (ffv^aftev,  invent),  and  by  the  applica- 
tion of  that  name  amongst  Masons,i  t  is  implied  that 
we  have  discovered  the  knowledge  of  God  and  his  salva- 
9 


184  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

tion,  and  have  been  redeemed  from  the  death  of  sin,  and 
the  sepulchre  of  pollution  and  unrighteousness.  Thus 
the  Master  Mason  represented  man  under  the  Christian 
doctrine,  saved  from  the  grave  of  iniquity,  and  raised  to 
the  faith  of  salvation.  As  the  great  testimonial  that  we 
are  risen  from  the  state  of  corruption,  we  bear  the  emblem 
of  the  Holy  Trinity,  as  the  insignia  of  our  vows,  and  of 
the  origin  of  the  Master's  Order.  At  this  period,  also, 
our  worthy  Bro.  Preston,  in  his  code  of  Lectures,  which 
have  become  almost  universal  in  our  Lodges,  explains 
the  number  Five,  in  the  Second  Degree,  by  a  reference 
to  the  birth,  life,  death,  resurrection,  and  ascension  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.' 

"  *  This  explanation,'  said  Bro.  Mackintosh,  'appears, 
a  priori,  so  satisfactory,  that  I  shall  not  take  the  trouble 
to  examine  its  accuracy.  But  I  have  still  another  obser- 
vation to  make,  with  permission  of  the  Chair,  on  a  sub- 
ject which  I  confess  has  created  some  serious  misgivings 
in  my  mind,  respecting  the  real  intention  of  the  Order  at 
its  original  establishment.  Perhaps  some  well-informed 
Brother  will  be  able  to  explain  my  doubts  away.  But  it 
naturally  excites  the  apprehensions  of  a  thinking  man, 
when  he  finds  the  science  of  alchymy,  or  some  such 
absurdity,  anciently  identified  with  Masonry,  under  the 
suspicious  designation  of  Abrac,  Abraxas,  or  Abracadabra, 
which  is  admitted  by  both  the  authorities  you  have  just 
cited,  viz.,  Hutchinson  and  Preston.1 

"  'Your  doubts  would  be  reasonable,'  the  R.  W.  M. 
replied,  'if  they  were  just;  but  the  admission  of  those 
two  great  Masons  is  rather  problematical,  for  they  allude 
to  them  only  in  explanation  of  an  ancient  manuscript, 
said  to  be  written  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VI.,  about  the 
year  1430.  Now,  you  will  not  forget  that  in  the  age 
indicated  by  this  MS.,  alchymical  pursuits  excited  the 
attention  of  kings,  peers,  and  prelates,  and  actually  form- 
ed one  branch  of  liberal  education.  All  the  hidden 
mysteries  of  natural  philosophy  wrere  classed  under  the 
common  head  of  occult  science,  and  the  king's  astrologer 
was  a  public  officer,  and  formed  an  influential  member  of 
every  royal  household  in  Europe.  But,  my  dear  friend, 
the  Abracadabra  was  unconnected  with  alchymy.  It  is 
an  appropriation  which  throws  us  back  upon  the  dark 
ages  of  heathen  ignorance,  when  some  philosophers  con 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         185 

tended  that  fire  was  the  chief  deity;  and  hence,  as 
Bochart  informs  us,  in  his  "  Sacred  Geography,"1  the 
city  of  Ur,  in  Chaldea,  where,  according  to  Jewish  tradi- 
tion,2 Abraham  was  cast  into  the  furnace,  was  so  called 
from  a  word  signifying  Lux,  sen  ignis.  They  placed  fire 
in  the  centre  of  the  earth,  and  as  the  earth  was  thus  con- 
sidered the  primary  object  round  which  all  the  celestial 
bodies  revolved,  the  situation  assigned  to  their  deity  was, 
in  their  estimation,  the  absolute  axle  or  pivot  that  direct- 
ed and  governed  the  entire  universe.3  This  hypothesis 
was  in.  some  degree  conformable  to  the  opinions  of  the 
Jews,  who  entertained  a  firm  belief  that  JEHOVAH,  who 
had  manifested  himself  to  their  ancestors  by  fire,  was 
resident  in  their  land  only,  which  they  esteemed  to  be 
the  centre  or  middle  of  the  earth,  and  that  the  said  axle 
was  exactly  coincident  with  the  Sanctum  Sanctorum  of 
the  Temple  at  Jerusalem.  Hence  they  pronounced  the 
rest  of  the  world  to  be  out  of  the  pale  of  God's  obser- 
vation and  protection,  occupying  an  indefinite  circle  of 
darkness,  and  alienated  from  the  light  of  the  Most  High.' 

"  'You  are  aware,  of  course,'  said  Bro.  Mackintosh, 
'that  this  interpretation  was  repudiated  by  the  Basili- 
deans.' 

"  'I  am  not  ignorant  of  the  fact,'  replied  the  K.  W. 
M.  'The  Basilideans,  and  cither  Gnostics,  being  better 
informed  than  the  Jews,  from  having  been  instructed  in 
the  truths  of  Christian  revelation,  fell  into  errors  equally 
fatal  and  absurd,  by  an  intermixture  of  the  Egyptian 
philosophy  with  the  tenets  of  the  Christian  religion. 
They  emancipated  Jehovah  from  the  Pythagorean  and 
Jewish  centre,  and  confined  him  to  the  circle  of  the 
year.  They  endowed  him  with  365  attributes  or  emana- 
tions, one  for  each  diurnal  rotation,  which  we^re  individu- 
ally deified  in  their  turn  as  a  separate  power,  and  invested 
with  a  corresponding  name.' 

"  '  Arid  do  you  conceive  this  absurd  doctrine  to  have 
been  embodied  in  Masonry  by  our  ancient  Brethren?' 
interposed  Bro.  Mackintosh,  'for  that  is  the  question  1 
am  desirous  to  have  solved.' 

1  Gteog.  Sacr.,  p.  83,  ed.  1681.  2  Jerom.,  on  Gen.  ri.,  31. 

3  Hist.  Init.,  p.  63,  n. 


186  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

"  'Not  at  all,'  said  Bro.  Noorthouck.  'The  Egyptian 
doctrine,  from  which  this  was  borrowed,  appertained  to 
the  worship  of  Isis  (a  corruption,  according  to  the 
Basilideans,  of  the  name  of  Jesus),  who  was  called 
Myrionyrna,  or  the  goddess  with  a  thousand  names,  each 
name  being  a  separate  attribute,  and  proclaimed  herself, 
as  Plutarch  informs  us,  Sum  quidquidfuit,  est,  et  erit,  nemoque 
mortalium  mihi  adhuc  velum  detraxit.  Apuleius  introduces 
her  as  saying,  "  I  am  the  queen  of  heaven,  the  mystery 
of  the  elements,  the  beginning  of  ages,  the  governor  of 
the  firmament,"  &c.  And  it  was  in  imitation  of  this  pro- 
totype that  Basilides  gave  his  365  names  to  the  deity, 
one  of  which — perhaps  the  chief — was  Abraxas,4  which, 
on  the  one  hand,  referred  to  the  sun  at  the  first  hour  of 
his  rising,  and,  on  the  other,  to  Jesus,  who  is  represented 
in  the  New  Testament  as  the  DAY-STAR  from  on  high, 
rising  in  the  East.  Now,  the  Day-star  is  the  sun,  and 
hence  he  is  called  in  another  place  the  Sun  of  Righteous- 
ness.' 

"  '  Then  what,  in  the  name  of  patience,'  Bro.  Mackin- 
tosh hastily  said — '  what  was  this  facultie  of  Abrac ,  about 
which  so  much  has  been  said  ?' 

"'Be  calm,'  the  R.  W.  M.  answered,  'and  I  will  tell 
you.  The  facultie  of  Abrac,  mentioned  in  the  MS.  to 
which  you  have  referred,  was  nothing  more  than  the  art 
of  raising  a  horoscope  or  figure  of  the  heavens  at  a  cer- 
tain given  moment  of  time;  and  every  almanac-maker  at 
the  present  day  is  acquainted  with  the  process,  although 
I  greatly  doubt  whether  it  ever  formed  a  legitimate 
object  of  research  in  a  Masons'  Lodge.  I  am  rather 
inclined  to  think  that,  as  the  MS.  was  only  a  copy  of  one 
still  older,  this  art  was  inserted  amongst  the  secret  prac- 
tices of  IV^sonry  by  some  ignorant  transcriber,  who 
fancied  that  being  an  occult,  it  must  necessarily  be  a 
Masonic  pursuit.  I  admit  that  the  word  Abraxas  is 
found  on  some  few  of  the  Craft  Lodge  floorcloths,  but 
whether  the  Brethren  understand  the  facultie  of  Abrac 
literally,  or  whether  it  is  intended  as  a  name  of  the 
Mediator,  I  will  not  pretend  to  determine.' 

4  For  a  full  description  of  the  Abraxas,  see  my  article  on  the  sub 
ject,  in  the  F.  Q.  R.,  for  1848,  p.  376. 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  187 

"  '  You  will  excuse  me,  I  am  sure,'  said  Bro.  Mackin- 
tosh, '  if  I  suggest  a  still  further  question,  and  it  shall  be 
the  last,  arising  out  of  a  passage  in  the  R.  A.  Lectures, 
where  mention  is  made  of  the  Soul  of  Nature.  I  confess 
I  cannot  understand  it,  unless  it  has  a  reference  to  the 
above  subject.' 

"  *  You  are  correct,'  the  R.  W.  M.  replied, '  in  supposing 
that  the  Soul  of  Nature  refers  to  the  Abraxas,  for  we  find 
that  name  substituted  for  Jehovah  in  some  of  the  earliest 
chapters.  It  is,  in  fact,  a  reproduction  of  the  Platonic 
triangle,  T'AGATHON — Nous — PSYCHE.  The  Platonists 
believed  the  world  or  Nature  to  be  a  living  animal,  endued 
with  a  soul  (£toov  evyv%ov) ;  and  esteemed  it  as  a  form 
informing  the  universe,  or  rather  a  Form  assistant,  ima- 
gining it  unsuitable  to  its  deity  to  be  mixed  with,  or 
vitally  united  to  the  grossest  sub-celestial  matter,  and  to 
have  perceptions  of  all  its  motions.  You  will  find  the 
doctrine  explained  in  Seneca  de  Beneficio,  in  the  seventh 
chapter  of  the  Fourth  Book.  According  to  this  philo- 
sopher, when  treating  of  the  Soul  of  the  World  or 
Nature,  matter  is  eternal — T'Agathon  representing  the 
Supreme  Being — Nous,  or  Logos,  the  Intellectual  world 
—and  Psyche,  or  Demiurgus,  a  sort  of  deputy  Creator, 
or  Soul  infused  into  Nature,  which  was  constructed  out 
of  pre-existent  materials,  called  Hyle.  This  quaternary 
of  the  Intellectual  World  or  Nature,  T'Agathon — Nous 
— Psyche — Hyle,  formed  the  Pythagorean  Tetractys,  and 
was  considered  equivalent  to  the  Jewish  Tetragramma- 
ton,  which  may  be  the  reason  why  a  reference  to  the 
doctrine  was  improperly  foisted  into  R.  A.  Masonry  by 
our  respected  and  intelligent  Brother  Dunckerley  ;  but  I 
conceive  that  no  such  principles  were  ever  intended  to 
form  a  characteristic  portion  of  this  exalted  Order.' 

"  '  My  dear  friend,'  said  Bro.  Mackintosh,  '  I  confess  I 
ought  to.  cry  peccavi,  and  apologise  for  the  trouble  I  have 
given  you.  You  have  afforded  me  considerable  enlighten- 
ment on  these  intricate  subjects ;  and,  to  say  the  truth, 
I  was  scarcely  aware  that  they  were  capable  of  such  an 
elucidation.  It  strikes  me  that  occasional  conversations 
like  this  in  which  we  are  at  present  engaged  in  open 
Lodge,  on  doubtful  or  unintelligible  points,  would  be  of 
great  service  to  Masonry,  and  confer  more  essential 


188  THE    REVELATIONS    OP    A    SQUARE. 

benefits  on  the  Brethren  than  the  eternal  repetition  of 
the  usual  Lodge  Lectures.' 

"The  Brethren  professed  themselves  to  be  greatly 
edified  by  the  discussion,"  said  the  Square,  "and  Bro. 
Mackintosh,  from  that  moment,  became  a  zealous  and 
industrious  Mason,  and  gradually  advanced  to  the  highest 
honours  of  the  Craft." 


CHAPTER  XI. 

CHARLATANS. ARTHUR    TEGART. 

1790      1794. 


"  Absentem  qui  rodit  amicum : 
Qui  non  defendit,  alio  culpante  ;  solutos 
Qui  captat  risus  hominum,  famamque  dicacis ; 
Fingere  qui  non  visa  potest ;  commissa  tacere 
Qui  nequit;  hie  niger  est:  hunc  tu,  Romane,  caveto." 

HOR. 

"  The  base  and  vile  doctrine  of  doing  evil  that  good  may  come ; 
or,  in  other  words,  that  the  end  justifies  the  means,  has  also  been 
alleged  against  the  Freemasons.  Or,  rather,  it  is  expressly  asserted 
of  the  Jesuits  and  Illuminees,  by  authors  who  decidedly  implicate 
and  involve  our  Society  with  those  corrupt  associations ;  declaring  it 
to  be  formed  on  the  same  plan,  founded  on  the  same  principles,  and 
furthering  the  same  designs." — HARRIS. 

••  In  mids  of  which  depainted  there  we  found 
Deadly  debate,  all  full  of  snaky  hair 
That  with  a  bloody  fillet  was  ybound 
Outbreaking  nought  but  discord  everywhere." 

SACKVILLE. 


THE  Square  continued  his  Revelations  in  a  moralizing 
spirit.  "  Towards  the  conclusion  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury," he  said,  "  Fremasonry  had  many  enemies  to  con- 
tend with.  Besides  the  professed  Cowans,  there  were 
false  Masons,  seceding  'Masons,  and  Antimasons,  all  of 
whom  were  arrayed  against  the  truth;  but  the  latter 
were  the  most  venomous.  They  attacked,  with  blind 
and  indiscriminate  zeal,  like  a  bear  overturning  a  hive  of 
bees,  unconscious  of  the  punishment  to  which  he  exposes 
himself,  an  institution,  of  the  design  of  which  they  were 
profoundly  ignorant,  with  the  avowed  determination  of 
scuttling  and  sinking  the  gallant  ship.  This  hazy  notion 
led  them  into  a  slough  of  difficulties,  where  every  plunge 
th#y  made  sank  them  deeper  and  deeper  in  their  soft  and 


190         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

miry  bed.     Pope  had  already  described   them   in  the 
*  Dunciad :' — 

*  Here  plung'd  a  feeble,  hut  a  desperate  pack. 
With  each  a  sickly  Brother  at  his  back ; 
Sons  of  a  day !  just  buoyant  on  the  flood, 
They  number'd  with  the  puppies  in  the  mud. 
Ask  ye  their  names  ?     I  could  as  soon  disclose 
The  names  of  these  blind  puppies  as  of  those.' 

"Nor  could  they  be  made  to  understand  that  the 
genius  of  Masonry,  while  pursuing  her  stately  march  of 
benevolence  through  the  world,  diffuses  happiness  wher- 
ever she  appears,  and  scatters  blessings  with  a  liberal 
hand. 

4  Her  flowing  raiment  pure  as  virgin  snow 
Or  fabled  field  where  fairest  lilies  grow, 
A  milk-white  lamb  ran  sporting  by  her  sidet 
As  innocence  her  manners  dignified. 
Her  whole  deportment  harmony  and  lore, 
Temper' d  with  meekness  from  the  realms  above. 
A  blazing  star  upon  her  front  she  wore ; 
A  cornucopia  in  her  hand  she  bore. 
Where'er  she  trod  the  sciences  arose; 
Where'er  she  breath'd  confusion  sham'd  her  foes  ; 
Dismayed  they  fled,  nor  dar'd  to  look  behind, 
For  foes  of  her  were  foes  of  human  kind.'1 

"Although  Freemasonry  is  thus  constantly  employed 
in  performing  the  high  behests  of  the  Divinity,  the  Anti- 
masons  of  a  foreign  land,  during  the  period  now  under 
our  consideration,  succeeded  in  obstructing  her  course 
and,  for  a  brief  period,  absolutely  annihilated  her  ex- 
istence, amidst  the  wild  dissensions  and  anarchy  of  a 
blood-stained  .revolution.  Translations  of  the  virulent 
attacks  of  Lefranc2  and  Latocnaye3  were  freely  distri- 

1  From  an  unpublished  "  Ode  on  Masonry,*'  by  the  Rev.  S.  Oliver. 

3  Lefranc's  work  is  called  the  "Veil  withdrawn  for  the  Curious; 
or,  the  Secret  of  the  Revolution  divulged  by  the  aid  of  Freemasonry. 
By  the  Abbe  Lefranc,  Principal  of  the  Seminary  of  the  Eudists,  at 
Caen,  in  Normandy."  1792. 

3  "  The  Philosophy  of  Masonry."  An  answer  to  this  attack  was 
published  in  the  "  Freemasons'  Magazine "  for  1793,  in  which  the 
writer  gives  the  following  account  of  the  object  and  design  of  Free- 
masonry : — "  This  sublime  Institution  refines  society  into  a  more 
beautiful  and  a  more  perfect  system,  by  joining  men  together  in  closer 
and  more  affectionate  relations  than  is  the  case  in  the  enlarged  state 
of  social  intercourse.  But  its  grand  labour  to  bring  about  this  glorious 
end,  is  to  make  its  votaries  good  men  and  true ;  and  as  the  strong- 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  191 

buted;  the  former  of  whom  reproduced  the  worn-out 
fiction,  that,  on  the  death  of  a  friend  who  had  been  a 
very  zealous  Mason  and  many  years  Master  of  a  respect- 
able Lodge,  he  found  amongst  his  papers  a  collection  of 
masonic  writings,  containing  the  rituals,  catechisms,  and 
symbols  of  every  kind  belonging  to  a  train  of  degrees, 
together  with  many  discourses  delivered  in  different 
Lodges,  and  minutes  of  their  proceedings.  The  perusal 
filled  him,  as  he  tells  his  readers,  with  astonishment  and 
anxiety.  For  he  found  that  doctrines  were  taught,  and 
maxims  of  conduct  inculcated,  which  were  subversive  of 
religion  and  all  good  order  in  the  state  ;4  and  which  not 
only  countenanced  disloyalty  and  sedition,  but  even  in- 
vited to  it.  He  thought  them  so  dangerous  to  the  state, 
that  he  sent  an  account  of  them  to  the  Archbishop  of 
Paris,  long  before  the  Revolution,  in  the  hope  that  he 
would  represent  the  matter  to  his  majesty's  ministers, 

est  motive  to  virtue,  it  points  their  view  to  that  Temple  of  immortal 
perfection  beyond  the  present  state,  where  social  happiness  is  alone 
complete,  but  which  you  have  endeavoured  to  persuade  men  is  only 
a  visionary  structure  erected  by  artifice,  and  supported  by  super- 
stition." 

4  Lefranc  seems  to  have  improved  on  the  fable  invented  by  an 
English  charlatan,  and  inserted  in  the  Preface  of  a  pretended  reve- 
lation which  had  been  published  many  years  before ;  where  the 
author  unblushingly  proclaims,  for  the  purpose,  we  suppose,  of  obvi- 
.ating  the  suspicion  of  perjury,  the  incredible  fiction  that  he  acquired 
his  knowledge  from  some  loose  papers  belonging  to  a  merchant,  to 
whom  he  was  nearly  related,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the  Queen's 
Arms  Lodge,  St.  Paul's  Churchyard.  This  relation  dying  about  ten 
years  ago,  the  Editor  became  possessed  of  his  effects ;  and  on  look- 
ing over  his  papers,  amongst  others  he  found  some  memorandums  of 
Masonry,  which  excited  his  curiosity  so  far,  that  he  resolved  to  enter 
a  Lodge  without  going  through  the  ceremonies  required  by  the 
Society.  He  first  made  trial  on  an  intimate  acquaintance  who  was  a 
Freemason,  and  he  readily  returned  the  sign  which  was  made  to  him. 
After  a  more  particular  examination  on  the  part  of  his  friend,  as  to 
where  he  was  made,  and  when,  &c.,  to  all  of  which  he  answered  with 
great  readiness,  he  received  an  invitation  to  attend  the  Lodge  as  a 
visiting  member.  Elated  by  success,  he  consented  to  accompany  his 
friend ;  and  after  the  usual  ceremony  at  the  door,  he  was  admitted  by 
the  Tyler,  clothed  himself  in  his  apron,  and  took  his  seat  as  a  Bro- 
ther Mason.  He  further  tells  his  readers  that  he  was  present  at  two 
initiations,  and  that  the  ceremonies  corresponded  with  his  deceased 
relative's  papers.  He  then  went  to  another  Lodge,  where  he  distin- 
guished himself  greatly  in  answering  the  Questions  proposed  by  the 
Master,  which  he  acquired  from  his  friend's  manuscripts  of  the  Entered 
Apprentice,  and  Fellowcraft's  Lectures. 
9* 


192         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

and  that  they  would  put  an  end  to  the  meetings  of  this 
dangerous  society,  or  at  least  restrain  its  members  from 
committing  such  excesses.  But  he  was  disappointed, 
and,  therefore,  thought  it  was  his  duty  to  lay  them 
before  the  public. 

"  And  Latocnaye,"  continued  the  Square,  "  treats  his 
readers  with  a  rigmarole  story,  that  when  he  was  initi- 
ated, an  old  gentleman  asked  him  what  he  thought  of 
Freemasonry.  He  answered,  '  A  great  deal  of  noise,  and 
much  nonsense.'  '  Nonsense  !'  said  the  other  ;  l  do  not 
judge  so  rashly,  young  man,  I  have  been  a  Mason  these 
twenty-five  years,  and  the  farther  I  advanced  the  more 
interested  I  became  ;  but  I  stopped  short,  and  nothing 
shall  prevail  on  me  to  proceed  a  step  farther.'  In  another 
conversation  the  old  gentleman  confessed  that  his  quarrel 
with  the  Institution  originated  in  his  refusal,  a  long  time 
previous,  to  accede  to  some  treasonable  proposals  which 
were  made  to  him  by  some  members  of  his  Lodge,  ever 
since  which  he  had  been  treated  by  the  Fraternity  with 
great  reserve  ;  antl  under  the^ pretext  of  further  instruc- 
tions, they  were  anxious  to  soften  down  their  seditious 
proposals  by  giving  them  a  different  explanation,  for  the 
purpose  of  removing  the  suspicions  which  he  had  formed 
concerning  the  ultimate  scope  of  the  Institution. 

"Then  the  great  guns  were  brought  to  bear  on  the 
Order,"  said  the  Square,  u  in  the  ponderous  *  Proofs '  of 
Professor  Robison,5  and  the  Abbe  Barruel's  '  Memoirs  of 
Jacobinism  ;'6  the  latter  of  whom,  with  consummate  skill, 


6  "Proofs  of  a  Conspiracy  against  all  Religions  and  Governments 
of  Europe,  carried  on  in  the  Secret  Meetings  of  Freemasons,  Illumi- 
nati,  and  Reading  Societies.  Collected  from  good  authorities.  By 
John  Robison."  Edinburgh,  Creech,  1797.  The  Second  Edition, 
with  corrections  and  additions :  London,  Cadell :  and  Edinburgh, 
Creech,  1797.  Third  Edition,  still  further  enlarged  :  London,  Cadell, 
1798.  Fourth  Edition:  London.  1798.  This  book  was  translated 
into  French,  and  published  by  Thory  in  1797 ;  into  German,  and 
published  in  1800;  with  other  editions  in  1802  and  1803;  and  also 
into  several  other  continental  languages. 

6  "  Memoirs,  illustrating  the  History  of  Jacobinism,  by  the  Abbe 
Barruel,  and  translated  into  English  by  the  Hon.  Robert  Clifford" 
London,  1797.  Second  Edition  :  London,  1798.  This  extraordinary 
book  was  originally  written  in  French.  It  went  through  several 
editions  in  that  country,  and  was  translated  into  most  of  the  conti- 
nental languages.  In  support  of  his  theory,  Barruel  tells  his  readers 
that  a  nobleman,  who  had  been  disgusted  with  what  he  saw  in  the 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        193 

graced  a  losing  cause  by  dressing  up  falsehood  in  great 
eloquence  of  language,  and  gilding  discomfiture  with 
selfish  adulation.  These  two  works  created  an  immense 
sensation,  although  they  were  powerfully  answered  by 
Preston,7  Jones,8  and  other  masonic  worthies. 

"  And  the  task  was  not  difficult,"  said  the  Square 
'  If  these  unprincipled  charlatans,  abbes,  and  professors, 
aad  favoured  us  with  a  few  rays  of  truth  to  enlighten 
3ur  progress  through  the  vast  region  of  darkness  and  error 
into  which  their  copious  tomes  have  led  us,  we  might 
have  afforded  to  excuse  the  evil  for  the  sake  of  the  good. 
But  obtrectatio  ac  livor  pronis  auribus  accipiuntur?  and 
instead  of  that,  their  publications  present  to  our  view 
one  gigantic  tissue  of  errors.  False  in  principle,  false  in 
practice,  false  in  facts,  and  false  in  detail,  they  are  unpos- 
sessed of  a  single  redeeming  feature,  although  they  passed 
through  as  many  editions  as  *  Jack  the  Giant  Killer'  and 
'  Tom  Thumb ;'  and  every  argument,  every  objection, 
and  every  surmise  has  been  answered  and  refuted  a  thou- 
sand times  over. 

"As  for  Barruel,  he  was  either  deceived  himself,  or 
possessed  with  a  wilful  and  wicked  determination  ol 
deceiving  others.  The  latter  alternative  appears  the  most 
reasonable;  for  it  is  barely  possible  that  he  could  be 
misinformed  on  a  subject,  to  the  study  of  which  he  had 
devoted  all  his  energies  for  the  professed  purpose  of 

Freemasons'  Lodges,  reported  it  to  the  minister,  saying  that  he  con- 
sidered it  his  duty  to  do  this,  though  it  might  probably  lodge  him  in 
the  Bastile.  The  minister  turned  on  his  heel,  and  said,  with  a  smile, 
"  Be  satisfied,  my  friend,  you  shall  not  go  to  the  Bastile,  nor  will  the 
Freemasons  disturb  the  state."  It  appears  also  that  the  king  himself 
had  been  informed  of  those  dangerous  proceedings.  But  being  easy 
and  confident,  he  did  not  know  the  change  which  had  been  produced 
in  the  minds  of  his  subjects,  till  his  return  from  Varennes.  Then  he 
observed  to  a  friend,  "How  does  it  happen  that  I  closed  my  mind 
against  this  ?  I  was  informed  of  it  all  eleven  years  ago,  and  refused 
to  believe  it." 

7  "Freemasons'  Magazine,"   and  "Illustrations  of  Masonry." 

8  A  Vindication  of  Masonry  from  the  charge  of  having  given  riso 
to  the  French  Revolution,  in  the  "  Masonic  Essayist." 

9  "What!"  cried  the  scholar,  "  have  you  studied  the  classics '?" 
"  You  ought  hardly  to  be  surprised  at  that,"  replied  the  devil.     "I 
speak  fluently  all  the  barbarous  tongues — Hebrew,  Greek,  Persic, 
and  Arabic.     Nevertheless,  I  am  not  vain  of  my  attainments ;  and 
that,  at  all  events,  is  an  advantage  I  have  over  your  learned  pedants." 
— ASMODEUS. 


194  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

exposure  and  ultimate  extinction.  He  tells  his  readers 
the  improbable  fiction  that  initiation  was  absolutely  forced 
upon  him.  Hear  his  lachrymose  confession  from  his  own 
mouth,  and  wonder:  *  During  the  last  twenty  years,7  he 
says,  'it  was  difficult,  especially  in  Paris,  to  meet  with 
persons  who  did  not  belong  to  the  Society  of  Freema- 
sons. I  was  acquainted  with  many,  and  some  were  my 
most  intimate  friends.  These,  with  all  tliat  zeal  common  to 
young  adepts,  frequently  pressing  me  to  become'  one  of 
the  Brotherhood ;  and  notwithstanding  my  constant  and 
steady  refusal,  they  determined  to  enrol  me.  Having 
settled  their  plan,  I  was  invited  to  dinner  at  a  friend's 
house,  and  was  the  only  profane  person  in  the  midst  of  a 
large  assembly  of  Masons.  Dinner  being  over,  and  the 
servants  having  withdrawn,  it  was  proposed  to  form 
themselves  into  a  Lodge,  and  to  initiate  me.  I  persisted 
in  my  refusal,  and  particularly  declined  to  take  any  oath 
to  keep  those  things  secret  which  were  unknown  to  me. 
The  oath  was,  therefore,  dispensed  with  ;  but  I  still 
refused.  They  then  became  more  pressing ;  telling  me 
that  Masonry  was  perfectly  innocent,  and  its  morality 
unobjectionable.  In  reply,  I  asked  whether  it  was  better 
than  that  of  the  Gospel.  They  only  answered  by  form- 
ing themselves  into  a  Lodge,»arrd  commenced  all  those 
grimaces  and  childish  ceremonies  which  are  described  in 
books  on  Masonry.  I  attempted  to  escape,  but  in  vain  ; 
the  apartment  was  very  extensive,  the  house  in  a  retired 
situation,  the  servants  in  the  secret,  and  all  the  doors 
locked.  I  was  then  questioned,  and  my  answers  were 
given  laughingly.  In  the  end  I  was  admitted  Apprentice, 
and  immediately  afterwards  Fellowcraft.  Having  receiv- 
ed these  two  degrees,  I  was  informed  that  a  third  was 
to  be  conferred  on  me.  On  this  I  was  conducted  into 
another  spacious  apartment,  where  the  scene  changed, 
and  assumed  a  more  serious  appearance,  &c.,  Ohe,  jam 
satis! 

"  Do  you  believe  this  medley  of  improbabilities  ?'  said 
the  Square,  interrogatively.  "  No  one  does.  There  is 
not  a  single  grain  of  truth  in  this  overflowing  measure 
of  chaff.  Freemasonry  is  not  a  proselyting  system  ;  no 
zealous  young  adepts  can  press  their  friends  to  become 
Masons,  for  the  candidate  is  bound  to  declare  that  his 
application  is  purely  unsolicited,  or  he  would  be  summa- 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  195 

rily  rejected.  Again,  no  Lodge  can  be  opened  after  din- 
ner in  a  private  house,  nor  in  the  presence  of  a  candidate 
before  initiation ;  the  O.  B.  cannot  be  dispensed  with  ; 
the  Brethren  have  no  grimaces  and  childish  ceremonies ; 
nor  can  three  degrees  be  conferred  at  one  time.  Such 
wild  assertions  as  the  Abbe  has  used  to  cajole  his  readers, 
may  blind  the  profane  and  Antimason,  who  will  compla 
cently  swallow  a  camel's  load  of  the  most  incredible 
scurrility,  when  directed  against  the  Institution  of  Free 
masonry  ;  but  no  man  of  ordinary  common  sense  could 
be  deluded  into  believing  such  a  mendacious  statement, 
which  violates  all  the  ordinary  principles  by  which 
Masonry  is  regulated  and  knit  together. 

"To  support  his  hypothesis,  that  the  object  of  Free- 
masonry is  liberty  and  equality,  or,  in  other  words,  revo- 
lution, and  the  destruction  of  social  order,  Barruel  used 
the  following  argument,  deduced  from  presuming  facts. 
'  It  was  on  the  day,'  he  says,  *  when  Louis  XVI.  was  im- 
prisoned by  a  Decree  of  the  Jacobins,  that  the  secret  of 
Freemasonry  was,  for  the  first  time,  made  public ;  that 
secret,  so  dear  to  them,  and  which  they  preserved  with 
all  the  solemnity  of  the  most  inviolable  oath..  At  the 
reading  of  this  famous  decree,  they  exclaimed,  "We  have 
at  length  succeeded,  and  France  is  no  other  than  one 
immense  Lodge.  The  whole  French  people  are  Free- 
masons, and  the  entire  universe  will  soon  follow  their 
example."  I  witnessed,  this  enthusiasm,  and  heard  the 
conversation  to  which  it  gave  rise.  I  heard  Masons,  till 
then  the  most  reserved,  freely  and  openly  declare,  that 
at  length  the  grand  object  of  Masonry  was  accomplished 
by  the  establishment  of  equality  and  liberty.  "  All  men 
are  now  equal  and  brothers,"  they  exclaimed,  "  and  all 
men  are  free.  This  is  the  entire  substance  of  our  doctrine, 
the  object  of  our  wishes,  and  the  whole  of  our  Grand 
Secret."  Such  was  the  language,'  says  the  Abbe,  *  which 
I  heard  fall  from  the  most  zealous  Masons;  from  those 
whom  I  have  seen  decorated  with  all  the  insignia  of  the 
highest  degrees,  and  who  enjoyed  the  rights  of  Vener- 
ables  to  preside  over  the  Lodges.  I  have  heard  them 
express  themselves  in  this  manner  before  those  whom 
Masons  would  call  the  profane,  without  enjoining  the 
slightest  secresy,  either  from  the  men  or  women  present. 
They  said  it  in  a  tone  as  if  they  wished  all  France  should 


196  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

be  acquainted  with  this  glorious  achievement  of  Masonry  ; 
as  if  they  were  to  recognise  in  them  its  benefactors,  and 
the  authors  of  that  revolution  of  EQUALITY  and  LIBERTY, 
of  which  it  had  given  so  grand  an  example  to  all  Europe. 
Such-,  in  reality,  wan  the  general  secret  of  the  Freemasons.' 

"  The  man  declares,"  pursued  the  Square,  "  that  he 
saw  and  heard  all  this.  Is  he  to  be  credited  ?  I  think 
not ;  or  at  least  his  testimony  must  be  received  cum  grano 
salts;  for  it  may  be  difficult  to  conjecture  what  kind  01 
reverie  he  was  in  when  he  dreamt  of  such  absurdities. 

"  Once  more.  He  presents  his  readers  with  a  pretended 
extract  from  the  Lodge  Lectures.  Listen  to  it :  *  Learn, 
in  the  first  place,'  says  the  Venerable  to  the  candidate, 
*  that  the  three  implements  witli  which  you  have  been 
made  acquainted,  viz.,  the  Bible,  the  Compass,  and  the 
Square,  have  a  secret  signification,  which  I  will  ex- 
plain. The  Bible  instructs  you  to  acknowledge  no 
other  law  than  that  of  Adam — the  law  which  the  Al- 
mighty engraved  on  his  heart,  and  is  called  the  Law  of 
Nature.  The  Compasses  recall  to  your  mind  that  God  is 
the  central  point  from  which  everything  is  equally  dis- 
tant, and  to  which  everything  is  equally  near.  By  the 
Square  you  learn  that  God  has  made  everything  equal. 
The  Cubical  Stone  teaches  that  all  actions  are  alike  with 
respect  to  the  Sovereign  good.  The  death  of  Hiram,  and 
the  change  of  the  Master's  word,  teach  you  that  it  is 
difficult  to  escape  the  snares  of  ignorance ;  and  that  it  is 
your  duty  to  show  the  same  courage  as  our  Master  Hiram, 
who  suffered  himself  to  be  massacred  rather  than  hearken 
to  the  persuasion  of  his  assassins.' 

"  One  would  think,"  continued  the  Square,  emphatic- 
ally, "  that  the  simplest  and  most  gullible  Cowan  in  his 
majesty's  dominion  could  scarcely  be  deceived  by  the 
relation  of  these  gross  absurdities.  If  Barruel  believed 
them  himself,  he  had  more  verdant  reticulations  on  the 
cuticle  of  his  brain  than  I  gave  him  credit  for.  I  am  not 
hypercritical ;  but  I  put  it  to  you  pointedly  and  plainly, 
whether,  on  a  fair  literal  and  grammatical  construction 
of  his  words,  any  resemblance,  however  remote,  to  our 
general  illustrations,  can  be  traced  in  this  fanciful  expo- 
sition of  our  highly-esteemed  symbols?  And  it  is,  there- 
fore, impossible  to  arrive  at  any  other  conclusion  than 
that  a  wilful  perversion  of  facts,  supported  by  a  sophis- 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         197 

tical  train  of  reasoning,  are  the  unstable  grounds  on 
vhich  the  Jesuit  has  founded  a  superstructure,  that,  like 
the  ancient  military  towers  called  Belfroi,  was  intended 
to  batter  down,  and  level  with  the  earth,  the  bulwarks 
of  a  benevolent  institution,  which  teaches  man  to  do 
justly,  to  love  mercy,  and  to  walk  humbly  with  his  God. 
The  attempt,  however,  failed  most  signally,  and  the  de- 
famers  of  the  Order  sank  into  insignificance.  We  may, 
therefore,  say  with  Dry  den, — 

'  Let  them  rail  on ;  let  their  vindictive  muse, 
Have  four  and  twenty  letters  to  abuse, 
Which,  if  they  jumble  to  one  line  of  sense, 
Indict  them  of  a  capital  offence.' 

"  This  important  subject,"  the  Square  proceeded  to 
say,  "  constituted  a  prolific  topic  of  conversation  amongst 
the  Craft,  and  it  was  once  discussed  seriatim  by  the  Mem- 
bers of  our  Lodge,  who  expressed  their  opinions  on  it 
very  freely.  It  was  induced  by  an  observation  of  Bro. 
Arthur  Tegart,  who  was  installed  on  St.  John's  day,  1793, 
that  he  had  recently  seen  a  book,  published  by  a  French 
emigrant,  which  was  intended  to  prove  that  Masonry  is 
a  system  of  deism. 

"  'And  to  convince  you,  Brethren,'  the  R.  W.  M.  con- 
tinued, '  of  the  lamentable  ignorance  which  this  gentle- 
man displays  of  the  Institution  which  he  professes  to  ex- 
pose, you  shall  hear  the  account  that  he  gives  of  one  of 
the  ceremonies  of  initiation.  He  tells  his  readers  that 
the  candidate,  after  having  heard  many  threatenings 
against  those  who  should  betray  the  secrets  of  the  Order, 
is  conducted  to  a  place  where  he  sees  the  dead  bodies  of 
several  persons  who  are  said  to  have  suffered  for  their 
treachery.  At  this  point  of  the  ceremony,  he  himself, 
as  he  coolly  asserts,  saw  his  own  Brother  bound  hand 
and  foot,  and  was  informed  that  he  was  doomed  to  suffer 
the  punishment  due  to  this  grave  offence,  and  that  it  was 
reserved  for  himself  to  be  the  instrument  of  their  veu 
geance,  which  would  enable  him  to  manifest  his  com 
plete  devotion  to  the  Order.  It  being  observed,  however, 
that  his  countenance  indicated  extreme  horror,  as  his 
Brother  continued  earnestly  to  implore  his  mercy,  a 
bandage  was  charitably  placed  over  his  eyes,  in  order  to 
spare  his  feelings.  A  dagger  was  then  placed  in  his 


198  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

right  hand,  his  left  being  laid  on  the  palpitating  heart  of 
the  victim,  and  he  was  commanded^  to  strike.  He  in- 
stantly obeyed ;  and  when  the  bandage  was  removed 
from  his  eyes,  he  discovered  that  a  lamb  had  been  sub- 
stituted, although  he  verily  believed  that  he  had  stabbed 
his  brother.  Surely,  he  adds,  such  trials,  and  such  wan- 
ton cruelty,  are  fit  only  for  training  conspirators.' 

-  '  He  cannot  be  speaking  of  blue  Masonry,'  Bro.  Pigou 
observed,  *  for  there  is  not  a  shadow  of  resemblance  to 
any  one  of  our  ceremonies  in  the  entire  process.' 

"'He  scarcely  knows  what  he  is  speaking  of,'  said 
Bro.  Jones;  '  but  it  is  evident  that  he  intends  the  pro- 
fane world  to  believe  that  it  is  a  faithful  description  of 
our  secret  rites ;  and  to  my  certain  knowledge  there  are 
a  vast  number  of  people  that  either  </o,  or  pretend  to 
believe  it.' 

"  'As  they  do  also,'  Bro.  Preston  interposed,  '  the  wild 
assertion  of  Lefranc,  that  while  the  National  Assembly 
protected  the  meetings  of  Freemasons,  it  peremptorily 
prohibited  those  of  every  other  Society.  The  obligation, 
he  continues,  of  laying  aside  all  stars,  ribbons,  crosses, 
and  other  honourable  distinctions,  under  the  pretext  of 
fraternal  equality,  was  not  merely  a  prelude,  but  was  in- 
tended as  a  preparation  for  the  discontinuance  of  all  civil 
distinctions,  which  actually  took  place  at  the  very  be- 
ginning of  the  Revolution,  and  the  first  proposal  of  a 
surrender  was  made  by  a  zealous  Mason.  He  further 
observes,  that  the  horrible  and  sanguinary  oaths,  the 
daggers,  sculls,  and  cross-bones,  the  imaginary  combats 
with  the  murderers  of  Hiram,  and  many  other  gloomy 
ceremonies,  have  a  natural  tendency  to  harden  the  heart, 
to  qualify  its  natural  disgust  at  deeds  of  horror,  and  to 
pave  the  way  for  those  shocking  barbarities  which  made 
the  name  of  a  Frenchman  abhorred  throughout  Europe. 
It  is  true,  these  deeds  were  perpetrated  by  a  mob  of 
fanatics;  but  the  principles,  as  he  informs  his  readers, 
were  promulgated  and  fostered  by  persons  who  styled 
themselves  masonic  philosophers.' 

"'Absurd!'  interjected  Bro.  Crespigny.  'To  what 
Quixotic  projects  will  some  persons  resort  in  support  of 
an  untenable  hypothesis.  These  men  are  labouring  to 
promulgate  an  opinion  that  Freemasonry  was  the  proxi- 
mate cause  of  the  Revolution  in  France,  with  which  it 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         199 

had  as  little  to  do  as  in  producing  the  general  Deluge. 
Hoffmann,  a  German  writer  against  Freemasonry,  has 
the  candour  to  admit  that  the  Order  had  been  abused 
and  misrepresented  by  the  matchless  villany  (these  are  the 
very  words)  of  its  opponents;  and  that  they  were  per- 
fectly unscrupulous  in  the  invention  and  application  of 
any  facts  or  surmises,  how  absurd  soever  they  might 
be,  which  promised  to  preserve  the  balance  of  their 
theory.' 

"  '  For  which  purpose,'  said  Bro.  Pigou,  '  one  of  these 
worthies  boldly  asserts,  that  the  President's  hat  in  the 
National  Assembly  is  copied  from  that  of  a  Venerable 
Grand  Master  in  a  Mason's  Lodge;  and  that  the  Scarf 
of  a  municipal  officer  is  the  same  as  is  worn  by  an  En- 
tered Apprentice  Mason.  And  when  the  Assembly  cele- 
brated the  Revolution  in  the  Cathedral  of  Notre  Dame, 
he  further  says,  its  members  accepted  of  the  highest 
honours  of  Masonry,  by  passing  under  an  Arch  of  steel, 
formed  by  the  drawn  swords  of  a  double  rank  of  Breth- 
ren.' 

"'These  improbable  chimeras  have  been  conjured  up 
by  Lefranc,'  Bro.  Jones  observed,  •«  to  excite  the  appre- 
hensions of  the  timid,  and  the  ridicule  of  the  bold.  Now, 
the  alternative  embraced  by  his  hypothesis  may  be  put 
in  this  form  :  he  was  either  a  Freemason  or  not.  If  the 
former,  and  had  entered  into  solemn  obligations  of  secre- 
sy,  does  the  violation  of  those  obligations  afford  him 
any  claim  to  credence  ?  Or  is  the  man  who  fearlessly 
violates  an  oath,  which,  according  to  his  own  statement, 
is  most  awfully  administered,  likely  to  have  any  scruples 
of  conscience  respecting  the  truth  or  falsehood  of  his 
assertions,  when  he  undertakes  to  publish  a  pamphlet  ad 
captandum  vidgm?  If  M.  Lefranc  never  was  initiated,  it 
follows,  of  course,  that  his  work  must  be  an  unauthor- 
ized fabrication.  As  to  the  stale  pretext  of  deriving  his 
knowledge  of  Masonry  from  a  collection  of  papers, 
placed  in  his  hands  by  a  Brother  on  his  deathbed — the 
long-hackneyed  fiction  is  too  palpable  to  deserve  a 
moment's  consideration.' 

"Bro.  Preston  then  appealed  to  the  Brethren  present, 
to  say  whether  these  books,  which  denounce  Freemason- 
ry as  an  irreligious  and  deistical  Institution,  active  in 
a  romoting  evil^  but  neutral  at  the  least,  if  not  hostile,  to 


200         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

the  existence  of  good,  are  not  a  gross  and  wicked  libel 
on  a  Society  whose  foundation  and  superstructure  are 
peace,  harmony,  and  brotherly  love  ?  To  submit  to  the 
powers  that  be ;  to  obey  the  laws  which  yield  protection  ; 
to  conform  to  the  government  under  which  *hey  live ;  to 
be  attached  to  their  native  soil  and  sovereign ;  to  encou- 
rage industry,  to  reward  merit,  and  to  practise  universal 
benevolence,  are  the  fundamental  tenets  of  Masons ; 
'  peace  on  earth  and  good  will  to  man,1  are  their  study  ; 
while  the  cultivators  and  promoters  of  that  study  are 
marked  as  patterns  worthy  of  imitation  and  regard. 
Friends  to  Church  and  State  in  every  regular  govern- 
ment, their  tenets  interfere  with  no  particular  faith,  but 
are  alike  friendly  to  all.  Suiting  themselves  to  circum- 
stances and  situation,  their  Lodges  are  an  asylum  to  the 
friendless  and  unprotected  of  every  age  and  nation.  As 
citizens  of  the  world,  religious  antipathy  and  local  preju- 
dices fail  to  operate,  while  every  nation  affords  them  a 
friend,  and  every  climate  a  home. 

" <I  am  obliged  to  Bro.  Preston,'  said  the  R.  W.  M.. 
'  for  his  excellent  eulogium — indeed,  nothing  less  could 
be  expected  from  a  Brother  of  his  eminence.  But  the 
question  is,  can  anything  be  done  to  counteract  the 
effect  of  these  mendacious  publications,  which,  like  the 
blasting  simoom  of  the  Arabian  deserts,  that  envelops 
man  and  beast  in  its  deadly  embrace,  carry  conviction  to 
the  understanding  of  some,  overthrow  the  faith  of  others, 
and  create  doubt  and  suspicion  in  the  minds  of  all  T 

"'I  rather  incline  to  the  opinion  of  Gamaliel,'  Bro.  Sir 
John  Aubyn  gravely  replied ;  *  let  them  alone :  if  this 
counsel  or  this  work  be  of  man,  it  will  come  to  nought. 
And  I  am  fully  persuaded  that  the  proximate  intention 
of  all  these  writers  against  Freemasonry,  is  to  produce 
an  effect  decidedly  hostile  to  the  lessons  of  peace  and 
order  which  the  Redeemer  bequeathed  as  an  everlasting 
legacy  to  his  followers.' 

"  *I  shall  at  least,'  said  Bro.  Preston,  'discharge  my 
own  conscience,  by  endeavouring  to  furnish  all  right- 
minded  men  with  a  reply  to  the  gratuitous  and  unfound- 
ed assertions  of  Lefranc,  in  a  short  paper  on  the  subject, 
addressed  to  the  Editor  of  the  *  Gentleman's  Magazine.' 

"  'I  see  no  harm  in  that,'  replied  Bro.  Dagge,  'pro- 
vided it  be  done  in  a  mild  and  gentlemanly  spirit. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.  201 

"  *  And  I  will  take  care  not  to  exceed  the  bounds  of 
the  strictest  decorum,'  Bro.  Preston  rejoined. 

"But  all  the  masonic  charlatans  of  the  age,"  the 
Square  continued,  "and  their  name  is  Legion,  were 
eclipsed  by  a  working  tailor  of  the  name  of  Finch,  who 
was  now  beginning  to  acquire  a  notorious  celebrity, 
which  was  consummated  a  few  years  later  by  the  un- 
blushing assurance  with  which  his  pretensions  were 
advocated.  Expelled  from  the  Order  by  the  Grand 
Lodge,  he  commenced  a  system  of  practical  Masonry  on 
his  own  account,  although  at  the  best  he  was  but  malce 
fidei  possessor;  and,  like  the  fox  that  had  lost  his  tail, 
he  used  every  art  of  persuasion  to  induce  others  to  cut 
off  theirs,  that  his  deformity  might  escape  the  censure  of 
singularity.  He  succeeded  in  finding  an  abundance  of 
ready  abettors,  by  whose  aid  he  reaped  a  golden  harvest. 

"  Thus  Masonry,  appearing  to  be  more  profitable  than 
the  exercise  of  his  needle,  he  determined  to  make  the 
most  of  it ;  and  having  been  furnished  by  Nature  with 
an  assurance  equal  to  that  of  Signor  Corcuela's  friend  in 
*  Gil  Bias,'  he  did  not  hide  his  talent  under  a  bushel,  but 
brought  it  into  practice  with  tolerable  success.  He 
commenced  his  career  by  giving  private  instructions  in 
Masonry,  for  a  con-si-de-ra-tion,  and  numbers  resorted  to 
him  for  that  purpose.  By  some  means  or  other,  known 
only  to  himself,  he  had  become  pretty  well  versed  in  the 
continental  fables,  and  by  amalgamating  them  with 
English  Masonry,  he  succeeded  in  exciting  a  prurient 
curiosity  amongst  the  more  inexperienced  Brethren, 
which  brought  an  abundance  of  grist  to  his  masonic  mill. 

"  The  R.  W.  M.,"  continued  the  Square,  "  on  one  of 
oui  regular  Lodge  nights,  read  a  prospectus,  which 
Finch  had  addressed  to  him  officially,  and  a  brief  con- 
versation arose  out  of  a  remark  of  Bro.  Deans  on  the 
insufferable  arrogance  and  effrontery  of  that  person  in 
venturing  to  annoy  the  Lodges  with  his  unauthorized 
correspondence. 

"  '  These  circulars,'  Bro.  Preston  observed,  '  which  are 
in  reality  nothing  more  than  advertisements,  to  promote 
the  sale  of  his  catchpenny  publications,10  are  not  only 

10  His  principal  works  were  not  published  till  the  beginning  of  the 
nineteenth  century :  but  I  insert  a  few  of  them  here  to  render  the 


202  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

disseminated  among  the  Lodges,  but  publicly  placaided 
on  blank  walls  in  the  purlieus  of  the  city,  in  company 
with  notices  of  quack  medicines,  blacking-pots,  metallic 
tractors,  and  animal  magnetism.' 

"  *  I  know  the  fellow,'  said  Bro.  Pigou.  '  His  self-pos- 
session, under  any  circumstances  that  may  arise,  is 
worthy  of  a  better  cause.  He  is  a  nondescript  in  his 
principles,  and  a  cormorant  in  his  appetite  for  plunder. 
Peace  and  harmony  have  no  charms  for  him  ;  order  and 
regularity  are  his  aversion  ;  obedience  and  subordination 
he  detests ;  in  a  word,  his  sole  object  is  to  sink  the  tai- 
lor, and  convert  Masonry  into  a  more  profitable  and  less 
laborious  employment.  His  needle  is  sharp,  but  he 
thinks  himself  sharper,  and  he  has  discarded  the  thimble 
for  a  rig  which  he  fancies  will  be  more  remunerative.' 

"  '  Besides  all  this,'  Bro.  Dean  interposed,  '  the  man  is 
cursed  with  the  demon  of  ambition,  and  is  desirous  of 
being 

*  Jove  in  his  chair 
Of  the  sky  Lord  Mayor,' 

which  is  but  a  prelude  to  his  ultimate  exposure.' 

*' '  And  it  would  be  as  well  to  effectuate  it  at  once/ 
Bro.  Dagge  observed. 

"  *  Let  him  alone,'  replied  Bro.  Preston ;  *  let  him  alone. 
His  imposture  is  too  transparent  to  be  of  long  continu- 
ance. Give  him  rope  enough,  and  we  shall  see  him.  one 
of  these  fine  days,  gracefully  dangling  from  his  own 
signpost." 

subject  complete.  (1)  "A  Masonic  Treatise,  with  an  Elucidation  on 
the  Religious  and  Moral  Beauties  of  Freemasonry;  Ziydvjxyjpix, 
Zqjisgstn,  Wxstxjin,  &c.  R  A—  A  M—  R  C—  K  S—  M  P—  M— 
&c.  ;  for  the  use  of  Lodges  and  Brothers  in  general.  Dedicated,  by 
permission,  to  William  Perfect,  Esq.,  P.  G.  M.  for  the  county  of 
Kent.  By  W.  Finch,  Canterbury.  Please  to  observe  that  every 
book  has  on  the  Title-page,  ty  Qxzf,  and  Oivjjxg  Qvwgzjpix."  Deal, 
1800.  Second  edition,  Deal,  1802.  (2)  "  An  Elucidation  of  the  Ma- 
sonic Plates,  consisting  of  sixty-four  different  compartments.  By 
W.  Finch."  London,  1802.  (3)  "  A  Masonic  Key,  with  an  Eluci- 
dation. By  W.  Finch."  Deal,  1803.  (4)  "The  Lectures,  Laws, 
and  Ceremonies  of  the  Holy  Royal  Arch  degree  of  Freemasonry. 
By  W.  Finch."  Lambeth,  1812.  (5)  »  A  new  Set  of  Craft  Lec- 
tures for  the  use  of  Lodges  and  the  Brethren  in  general."  Lambeth, 
Finch,  1814.  (6)  **  The  Origin  of  Freemasons,  their  Doctrine 
&c."  London,  1816.  He  published  many  other  pamphlets  respect- 
ing the  higher  degrees,  which  it  would  be  tedious  to  enumerate. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        203 

"'At  least,'  said  Bro.  Jones,  'his  reputation  will  be 
thus  suspended,  and  exposed  to  public  derision.     It  will 
not  attain  a  green  old  age,  how  verdant  soever  his  credu 
lous  disciples  may  at  present  be-' 

"  '  More  improbable  things  than  that  have  occurred 
rejoined  Bro.  Pigou. 

"'And  yet,'  the  R.  W.  M.  observed,  'his  speculation 
promises  to  be  successful,  for  he  is  exceedingly  popular 
with  a  certain  set,  as  many  a  demagogue  has  been  before 
him,  and  will  be  again,  so  long  as  a  dupe  remains  to  be 
tormented  by  fictitious  evils,  or  amused  with  the  hope  of 
imaginary  good. 

'"I  confess,'  said  Bro.  Batson,  'that  my  patience  is 
severely  tried,  when  I  reflect  on  the  self-sufficient 
assumption  of  infallibility  which  this  ignorant  empiric 
arrogates  to  himself.  He  boldly  announces  that  both  the 
ancient  and  modern  sections  are  erroneous,  not  only  in 
practice,  but  in  principle;  and  asserts  that  the  York  sys- 
tem alone,  which  he  insinuates  to  be  something  essentially 
different  from  both,  is  genuine.  And  he  further  pro- 
claims, with  a  flourish  of  trumpets,  that  the  York 
system  of  Masonry  is  represented  in  its  purity  by  only 
one  solitary  Lodge — the  glorious  light  of  Masonry  has 
been  universally  extinguished,  or  become  like  the  flicker- 
ing blaze  of  an  expiring  rushlight,  and  burns  brightly  in 
one  only  place — and  that  place — hear  it,  ye  genii  that 
preside  over  humbug  and  knavery,  imposition  and  false- 
hood— that  place — the  house  of  William  Finch,  of  Can- 
terbury, and  himself — save  the  mark — its  Grand  Mas- 
ter!!!' 

"  'From  which  metropolitical  centre,'  the  R.  W.  M. 
interposed,  '  his  manifestoes  and  prospectuses  radiate  in 
every  direction,  to  induce  the  purchase  of  his  pretended 
Lectures,  which  are  enunciated  in  the  form  of  thin 
pamphlets,  at  the  enormous  charge  of  half  a  guinea  each. 
And  to  clothe  the  imposture  with  the  hope  of  being 
permanently  remunerative,  they  are  chiefly  in  manuscript, 
and  ingeniously  constructed  on  such  a  principle  that,  as 
I  am  told,  a  personal  application  to  the  author  for  their 
elucidation  is  absolutely  necessary  to  make  them  mode- 
rately intelligible ;  and  the  interview  can  only  be  obtain- 
ed through  the  medium  of  an  additional  fee.' 

"  '  The  rogue,'  said  Bro.  M'Grillivray,  '  is  grasping  to 


204         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

« 

receive,  but  always  unwilling  to  pay.  Like  Billy  Green, 
the  idiot,  who  accosted  every  one  he  met,  with  *  Sir,  give 
a  penny,  and  I  will  sing  you  a  song,  but  give  me  the  penny 
first?  he  stipulates  in  his  prospectuses,  as  a  sine  qua  non, 
that  all  payments  must  be  made  in  advance,  and  all  letters 
be  post-paid.' 

"  *I  have  had  the  curiosity,1  Bro.  Batson  remarked, 
•to  visit  his  crack  Lodge,;  but  my  attention  was  excited 
by  nothing  so  much  as  the  extreme  unction  with  which 
he  pronounced  the  self-laudatory  address  that  terminated 
the  proceedings.' 

"  *  And  what  did  he  say  for  himself?'  the  R.  W.  M 
asked;  for  he  felt  some  slight  interest  in  any  personal 
unecdote  of  a  character  who  had  established  such  an 
unenviable  notoriety. 

"  'It  was  in  the  style  of  eulogy,  delivered  in  extremely 
coarse  and  vulgar  language,'  Bro.  Batson  replied;  'and 
he  was  a  good  mimic,'  "  the  Square  interposed,  paren- 
thetically. "  '  Brethren,  my  name  is  William  Finch.  I 
am  not  ashamed  of  it.  The  name  of  Finch  will  be  known 
when  those  of  his  calumniators  are  forgotten.  I  am  the 
true  and  only  conservator  of  genuine  ancient  Masonry. 
No  man  understands  it  so  well  as  myself.  I  am  the 
greatest  Mason  in  Europe,  as  all  the  foreign  Lodges  are 
ready  to  testify.  Those  who  wish  to  learn  the  science 
must  come  to  me.  I  alone  can  teach  the  true  secrets  of 
mysticism,  cabalism,  and  theurgy,  practised  by  those 
learned  masonic  bodies  the  Chevaliers  Bienfaisants,  the 
Amis  Retmis  de  la  Verite,  the  Philalethes,  and  the  Mis- 
raimites.  They  are  not  known  to  any  Englishman  except 
myself!  I'm  wide  awake,  my  friends!  I  know  a  trick 
or  two!  Put  down  your  gold,  dear  Brethren,  and  you 
shall  see — what  you  shall  see.  They'll  bowl  me  out,  will 
they  ?  If  they  succeed,  my  name  is  not  William  Finch. 
No,  no,  they  can't  do  it.  I  should  like  to  see  them  try. 
Ha  !  ha  !  They  have  tried  more  than  once,  and  failed  ; 
and  they  will  not  do  it  again,  I'll  engage.'  And  thus  he 
ran  on,  something  in  the  style  of  Richard  Brothers,  the 
political  prophet,  to  the  edification  of  his  youthful 
admirers,  and  the  unconcealed  disgust  of  all  right- 
minded  Brethren.  Risum  teneatis  amid! 

"  'I  have,  myself,  been  weak  enough,'  said  Bro.  Dagge, 
to  purchase  one  of  his  manuscripts,  and  I  cannot  say 


THE  KEVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         205 

that  my  disappointment  was  altogther  unexpected,  when 
I  discovered  that  on  the  most  material  points  I  was 
referred  to  other  pamplets,  as  well  as  to  a  private  inter- 
view for  explanation.  This  course  was  evidently  pur- 
sued with  the  undisguised  intention  of  inducing  the 
purchase  of  them  also  at  the  same  price,  that  his  nest 
might  be  effectually  feathered.  Well  may  it  be  said  that 
charlatanism  pays  better  than  merit ;  for  I  soon  found 
that  it  would  be  impossible  to  decipher  his  complicated 
hieroglyphics  so  as  to  understand  the  system,  unless  I 
had  every  ope  of  his  books  before  rne,  as  well  as  the  keys 
of  his  ciphers,  and  elucidations  of  his  numerous  blanks 
and  spaces,11  and  even  then  it  is  doubtful  whether  any 
useful  information  can  be  extracted  from  their  perusal ; 
for  they  leave  the  reader  nearly  as  much  in  the  dark  as 
when  he  commenced  the  hopeless  task  of  unriddling 
these  cabalistic  productions.' 

11  Read  the  following  delectable  specimen  as  an  example,  if  you  can. 

"  5  He  liwvivw  those  t r g  33  to  wrerdv  gsvn  hvoevh  equally 

into  ulfi  wrerhrlmh,  one  of  which  was  to  go  down  to  Qlkkz  where  the 
materials  were  ozmwvw  for  the  yfrowrmt  and  vmjfriv,  if  any  such 
nvm  had  yvvm  gsviv  at  the  same  time  to  wrhxiryv  gsvn  they  received 
uli  zmhdvi  there  had,  but  owing  to  the  vnyzitl  they  could  not  obtain 
a  kzhhztv,  they  therefore  returned  into  the  rmgvirli  kzig  of  the  xlfm 
gib,  those  gsivv  33  then  returned  orpvdrhv,  and  on  passing  by  the 
nlfgs  lu  a  xzev  by  the  hvz  hrwv  they  svziw  the  following  vcxoznzgrlmh 
^here  follows  the  various  vcxoznzgrlmh)  they  knowing  by  their  elrxvh 
they  were  nvm  lu  Gbiv  and  by  their  vcxoznzgrlmh  that  they  were  the 
hznv,  they  were  rm  kvihfrg  lu  they  therefore  if  hsvw  rm  and  awd 
ulfmw  the  same,  they  then  ylfmw  gsvn  and  yilftsg  gsvn  yvulix  K 

S .."     Again  in  another  pamphlet.     "  So  r — in —  and  i —  from 

the  W—  M—  in  xxx  E— ;  xxx  and  c— t—  txt—  S.  W.  in  the  W. 
In  xxx  S —  &c.  (See  the  first  part  of  my  Union  Lectures.)  Once 
more.  The  origin  of  tlTe  M —  M —  0 —  B —  is  taken  from  a  custom 
of  the  Jews  when  they  E —  i—  a—  S —  E— ,  they  b —  f— -  a—  B — 
and  c —  it  a — ;  and  p —  b —  the  p —  t — ,  they  said  t —  1 —  it  be  done 
t —  h — ,  and  t —  1 —  h —  q —  b —  b —  c —  a — ,  who  shall  b —  h —  o — ." 
These  extracts  will  be  quite  sufficient  to  show  that  the  real  intention 
of  the  charlatan  was  to  extract  money  from  the  pockets  of  his  dupes ; 
but  I  cannot  refrain  from  giving  another  quotation  from  his  pamphlet 
on*the  Eoyal  Arch.  "  W —  w —  t —  do  a —  in  1 —  and  unity  the  S — 
W_  o—  a—  R—  A—  M—  to  k—  a—  n—  t—  r—  i—  t—  a—  i— 
t—  w_  unless  it  be  when  t—  s—  a—  w—  d—  m—  and  a—.  They 
now  give  the  S—  of  S —  the  t —  t— ;  which  done  they  a—  t—  t— 
p —  and  S—  on  the  f—  s —  of  their  c —  s — .  Z —  s —  I —  d —  t — 

g —  and  R —  C d o —  in  the  n —  o —  g.     There  is  another  method 

of  opening  the  Royal  Arch  Chapters  far  more  sublime  than  this ; 
which  may  be  had  in  MS.  by  application  to  W.  Finch !  !  !" 


206         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

"It  may  save  trouble,"  the  Square  continued,  "  to 
sum  up  this  impostor's  history  by  an  account  of  his  final 
exposure,  although  it  did  not  occur  until  many  years 
afterwards,  for  his  career  was  long  and  profitable.  Suc- 
cess and  impunity  at  length  made  him  reckless  and 
incautious,  and  he  became  so  eager  in  the  pursuit  of  his 
game,  that  sometimes  it  eluded  his  grasp.  When  he  was 
expelled  from  Masonry,  as  I  have  already  observed,  the 
fellow  opened  a  surreptitious  Lodge  in  his  own  house,  in 
accordance  with  a  false  principle,  which  he  publicly 
avowed  in  his  circulars,  that  every  Lodge  possesses  an 
inherent  power  of  acting  on  its  own  authority,  and  that 
any  body  of  Masons,  being  not  less  in  number  than  seven, 
are  at  full  liberty,  from  their  inalienable  rights,  to  open 
a  Lodge  when  and  where  they  please,  to  make  Masons, 
and  perform  all  the  rites  and  ceremonies  of  the  Craft. 
In  his  own  Lodge  the  fees  were  enormous,  and  he  suc- 
ceeded in  finding  a  competent  number  of  dupes  who 
were  weak  enough  to  submit  to  the  imposition. 

"Now  it  appears,"  said  the  Square,  "that  he  consid- 
ered himself  to  be  the  sole  usufruct nurlus  of  the  property, 
both  of  his  Lodge  and  trumpery  publications;  and,  there- 
fore, though  he  charged  unprecedented  prices  for  certain 
miserable  engravings  which  were  intended  to  elucidate 
his  system  of  Masonry,  yet  he  frequently  succeeded  in 
defrauding  his  workmen  of  the  fair  profits  of  their  honest 
labour,  by  persuading  them  to  be  initiated  in  his  Lodge. 
A  poor  fellow,  named  Smith,  was  thus  victimized.  When 
he  sent  in  his  bill  for  work  done,  Finch,  as  usual,  favoured 
him  with  a  cross  account  for  masonic  instruction.  Smith 
refused  to  pay  the  demand,  and  brought  an  action  to 
recover  the  sum  of  ,£4.  2s.,  as  balance  of  an  account  for 
engraving  and  printing  Finch's  masonic  pictures.  As  a 
set-off  against  this  demand,  Finch  was  imprudent  enough 
to  plead  that  Smith  was  indebted  to  him  .£16.  195.  6d. 
for  initiation,  passing,  raising,  and  instruction  in-  various 
degrees  of  Masonry  at  the  Independent  Lodge  in  his  own 
house.  Smith  brought  forward  Dr.  Hemming,  Past  S. 
G.  W.,  and  Brothers  White  and  Harper,  the  Grand  Sec- 
retaries, as  witnesses,  who  proved  that  Finch  was  not 
authorized  to  open  any  such  Lodge,  to  make  Masons,  or 
to  give  instructions  in  Masonry;  and  that  his  whole 
system  was  an  imposition  on  the  public,  which  ought 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        207 

not  to  be  suffered  to  exist  in  a  civilized  country,  or 
remain  under  the  protection  of  its  laws. 

"  The  judge  therefore  ruled,"  continued  the  Square, 
"  that  as  it  had  been  clearly  proved  that  Finch  was  an 
impostor,  his  claim  could  not  be  legal ;  that  his  conduct 
was  unjustifiable;  and  as  he  had  been  repudiated  by  the 
Fraternity,  he  stood  before  the  Masonic  world  as  an 
outlaw  without  a  claim  to  protection.  The  jury  gave 
their  verdict  accordingly  for  the  full  amount  \  of  the 
engraver's  demand. 

"In  consequence  of  this  defeat,  Finch  issued  a  manifesto, 
in  which  he  made  the  following  extraordinary  disclosure, 
although  few  persons  were  found  credulous  enough  to 
believe  it.  *  About  four  years  ago,'  so  runs  the  docu- 
ment, *  our  worthy  and  respectable  Rabee,  the  Master  of 
the  Lodge  at  Hampton  Court,  was  deputed  by  his 
Brethren  at  that  place,  and  parts  adjacent,  to  wait  on  me 
(W.  Finch),  and  solicit  my  attendance  at  Hampton,  to 
instruct  the  Brethren  in  various  parts  of  Masonry.  The 
evening  was  fixed  for  holding  a  conclave  and  Encamp- 
ment in  the  degree  of  Knights  Templars,  &c.,  in  which 
my  assistance  was  most  earnestly  solicited,  to  conduct 
the  business  of  the  evening,  and  to  make  several  Brothers 
Agreeably  to  this  request,  I  attended;  and  Dr.  Hem- 
ming was  one  of  the  party.  He  assisted  me  as  one  of 
my  officers ;  acted  according  to  my  instructions ;  agreed 
with  all  my  systems ;  and  paid  me  five  guineas  for  my 
trouble.  Now  I  call  upon  Dr.  Hemming  to  deny  any 
part  of  this  statement  if  he  can ;  and  had  he  not  been  so 
extremely  officious  as  to  have  come  forward  in  an  action 
for  debt  wherein  I  was  chiefly  concerned,  I  should  not 
have  thus  exposed  him.' 

"  This  statement,  which  is  in  every  respect  unworthy 
of  credit,"  the  Square  continued,  "  was  followed  by  an 
attempt  to  renew  the  schism,  after  the  union  between 
the  two  sections  had  been  effected  ;  and,  for  this  purpose, 
he  invited  the  Lodges  to  secede  under  a  statement  of 
imaginary  grievances,  sustained  by  himself.  And,  in  the 
year  1815,  lie  dispersed  a  circular  amongst  the  Fraternity, 
in  which  he  broadly  asserted  that  'a  vast  number  of 
Brethren  view  with  regret  and  concern,  that  since  the 
union  has  taken  place,  the  inundation  of  modern  innova 

10 


208         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

tions,  and  the  exclusion  of  most  of  the  ancient  rules  and 
ceremonies,  have  given  such  umbrage  to  a  great  number 
of  old  Masons,  that  nearly  fifty  Lodges  in  town  and  coun- 
try have  already  withdrawn  from  the  Union.  That  the 
union  between  the  Athols  and  Moderns  seems  to  be  but 
a  temporary  measure  towards  the  restoration  of  perfect 
harmony ;  for  whilst  they  continue  to  deviate  from  the 
ancient  landmarks,  and  pursue  their  persecutions  against 
the  K.  W.  M.  of  the  Independent  Lodge  of  Universality 
(himself),  it  only  tends  to  widen  the  breach  which 
friendly  means  might  contribute  to  heal.  That  the 
Grand  Lodge  have  violated  the  ancient  landmarks  of  the 
Order,  which  they  entered  into  with  the  Brethren  when 
they  constituted  a  Grand  Lodge  in  the  year  1717,  and 
which  bound  them,  by  the  most  solemn  engagements,  to 
preserve  inviolate  in  all  time  coming ;  and  by  virtue  of 
which  they  were  recognized  as  a  Grand  Lodge,  arid  held 
their  power  as  such,  on  this  tenure  only.  By  the  violation 
of  those  acts,  their  power  as  a  Grand  Lodge  cannot 
henceforth  have  any  legal  existence ;  as  they  have  can- 
celled their  own  authority  by  this  infraction  on  their  own 
voluntary  act  and  deed.  That  every  Lodge  may,  there- 
fore, act  independently,  &c.' 

"And  he  further  said,  in  his  Preface  to  another  publi- 
cation in  1816,  *  On  the  Origin  of  Masonry,' — *I  am  well 
convinced  in  my  own  mind  that  these  individuals  (Dr. 
Hemming  and  the  two  Grand  Secretaries)  would  almost 
as  soon  lose  their  office  as  have  the  present  work  made 
public ;  I  have,  therefore,  thought  proper  to  oblige  them 
with  its  publication  ;  and  since  they  have  compelled  me 
to  withdraw  the  veil,  I  shall  give  publicity  to  several 
other  matters  that  I  know  will  prove  highly  acceptable 
to  these  generous  gentlemen,  unless  sufficient  remuneration 
is  made  me  for  the  loss  sustained  by  their  ill-judged  inter- 
ference.'' 

"After  these  futile  attempts,  we  heard  no  more  of  Bro. 
W.  Finch.  He  had  played  out  his  game,  and  lost  it. 
From  thenceforth  he  degenerated  into  an  ignoble  obscu- 
rity, and  died  in  the  most  abject  poverty  ;  yet,  as  he 
created  some  sensation  at  the  time,  I  could  not  consist- 
ently avoid  givrig  you  a  brief  but  connected  history  of 
bis  proceedings.  And  I  have  been  rather  more  diffuse  on 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        209 

the  subject  than  I  originally  .'ntended,  for  the  purpose  of 
illustrating  the  certain  consequences  of -a  breach  of  dis- 
cipline, and  disobedience  to  masonic  law. 

"And  now,"  the  Square  continued,  "  after  leading  you, 
as  John  Bunyan  did  his  pilgrims,  through  the  gardens  of 
Beelzebub,  to  show  you  the  forbidden  fruit,  rank  and 
unwholesome,  that  flourishes  there — the  apples  of  char- 
latanism, the  grapes  of  Antimasonry,  and  the  cowans'  figs, 
not  particularly  wholesome,  I  must  return  to  the  ever- 
blooming  delectable  mountains  and  sunny  vales,  which 
are  situate  in  the  midst  of  a  Lodge,  just,  perfect  and 
regular,  when  it  is  open,  but  closely  tyled. 

'i  The  eighteenth  century  was  the  age  of  clubs,"  said 
the  Square,  "and  their  public  suppers  were  generally 
scenes  of  unmixed,  though  rather  turbulent  enjoyment ; 
but  there  was  a  festive  gratification  thrown  over  a  masonic 
banquet,  which  was  unapproachable  by  any  other  society. 
Even  the  celebrated  Heidegger,  the  arbiter  elegantiarum 
of  high  life,  was  often  heard  to  say,  that  if  he  had  not 
been  a  Mason,  he  should  never  have  had  a  perfect  zest  for 
the  exercise  of  his  art.  It  is  not  in  the  viands  (they  are 
the  same  everywhere),  it  is  not  the  wines — we  cannot 
boast  of  any  superiority  there.  The  secret  may  be  found 
in  the  congeniality  of  feeling  which  mutually  exists 
amongst  the  Brethren — knit  together  by  closer  ties — 
cemented  by  a  chain  of  more  sincere  and  disinterested 
affection — each  and  all  being  determined  to  give  and  re- 
ceive pleasure — to  be  happy  themselves,  and  the  source 
of  happiness  to  others.  By  this  means  a  Lodge  of  true- 
hearted  Brothers,  during  its  hours  of  relaxation  and  re- 
freshment, is  a  region  of  peace,  and  the  patented  abode 
of  good  temper  and  unmixed  enjoyment. 

"  This  result,"  said  the  Square,  "  arises  out  of  a  com- 
munity of  interests,  so  nicely  balanced  and  regulated  by 
the  Constitutions  of  the  Order,  that  being  directed  by 
Wisdom,  supported  by  Strength,  and  ornamented  by 
Beauty,  harmony  establishes  itself  without  any  artificial 
assistance;  and  the  Lodge,  like  a  well  constructed  machine, 
true  in  all  its  parts  and  proportions,  performs  its  work 
with  the  most  perfect  accuracy  and  unvarying  correct- 
ness. Interests  seldom  clash ;  each  officer's  duty  being 
so  clearly  defined  as  not  to  admit  of  any  mistake ;  the 
springs  and  wheels  execute  their  respective  functions  so 


210        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

truly,  as  to  preserve  their  symmetry,  and  contribute  to 
the  beauty,  magnificence,  and  durability  of  the  whole. 

"  This  exact  regularity,  as  I  once  heard  Bro.  Calcott 
say,"  continued  the  Square,  "  so  far  from  occasioning  a 
melancholy  seriousness,  diffuses  the  most  pure  delights; 
and  the  bright  effects  of  enjoyment  and  hilarity  shine 
forth  in  the  countenance.  It  is  true  that  appearances 
are  sometimes  a  little  more  sprightly  than  ordinary,  but 
decency  runs  no  risk  of  violation  ;  it  is  merely  wisdom  in 
good  humour.  For  if  a  Brother  should  so  far  forget  him- 
self as  to  use  any  improper  expressions,  a  formidable  sign 
would  immediately  recall  him  to  his  duty.  A  Brother  may 
mistake  as  a  man,  but  he  has  ample  means  of  recovering 
himself  as  a  Freemason.  And  although  order  and  decorum 
are  always  scrupulously  observed  in  our  Lodges,  we  do 
not  exclude  gaiety  and  cheerful  enjoyment.  The  con- 
versation is  always  animated,  and  the  kind  and  brotherly 
cordiality  that  is  found  there,  gives  rise  to  the  most 
pleasing  reflections. 

•'  These  particulars  may  justly  recall  to  our  minds  the 
happy  time  of  the  divine  Astrea,  when  there  was  neither 
superiority  nor  subordination,  because  men  were  as  yet 
untainted  by  yice  on  the  one  hand,  and  uncorrupted  by 
licentiousness  on  the  other." 


CHAPTER  XII. 

COWANS. JOHN   DENT. 

1794_1798 


"  It  is  frequently  urged  against  Freemasonry,  that  some  oi  those 
who  belong  to  it  are  intemperate,  profligate,  and  vicious.  But  E  »thmg 
can  be  more  unfair  or  unjust  than  to  depreciate  or  condemn  z^y  in- 
stitution, good  in  itself,  on  account  of  the  faults  of  those  who  p  retend 
to  adhere  to  it.  The  abuse  of  a  thing  is  no  valid  objection  to  its  in- 
herent goodness.  Worthless  characters  are  to  be  found  occasionally 
in  the  very  best  institutions  upon  earth." — HARRIS. 

"  Nothing  is  more  common  than  for  giddy  young  men,  just  enter- 
ing into  life,  to  join  the  Society  with  the  mere  sinister  view  of  extend- 
ing their  connections.  Such  men  dissipate  their  time,  money,  and 
attention,  in  running  about  from  one  Lodge  to  another,  where  they 
rather  aim  to  distinguish  themselves  in  the  licentious  character  of 
jolly  companions,  than  in  the  more  discreet  one  of  steady  good 
Masons." — NOORTHOUCK. 

"  Let  Cowans,  therefore,  and  the  upstart  fry 
Of  Gormagons,  our  well-earn' d  praise  deny, 
Our  secrets  let  them  as  they  will  deride, 
For  thus  the  fabled  fox  the  grapes  decried, 
While  we  superior  to  their  malice  live, 
And  freely  their  conjectures  will  forgive." 

]\iASONic  PROLOGUE,  1770. 


"  I  REMEMBER,"  the  Square  continued,  "  and  it  is  one 
of  the  earliest  circumstances  which  has  been  imprinted 
on  my  memory,  that  after  the  great  fire  of  London,  1666, 
when  the  re-edification  of  St.  Paul's  was  in  progress,  the 
surveyor  was  setting  out  the  dimensions  of  the  great 
dome,  and  had  fixed  upon  the  centre,  a  common  labourer 
was  ordered  to  bring  a  flat  stone  from  the  heaps  of  rub- 
bish (such  as  should  first  come  to  hand),  to  be  laid  for  a 
mark  and  direction  to  the  masons :  the  stone,  which  was 
immediately  brought  and  laid  down  for  that  purpose, 
happened  to  be  a  piece  of  a  gravestone,  with  nothing  re- 
maining of  the  inscription  but  this  single  word,  in  large 
capitals, — RESURGAM.  This  circumstance  made  BO 


212        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

strong  an  impression  on  the  mind  of  Sir  Christopher 
Wren,  that  he  caused  a  Phoenix,  rising  from  the  flames, 
with  the  motto  Resurgam  inscribed  beneath,  to  be  sculp- 
tured in  the  tympanum  of  the  south  pediment  above  the 
portico,  as  emblematical  of  the  reconstruction  of  the 
church  after  the  fire.1 

"This  circumstance  occurred  in  the  year  1715,"  the 
Square  observed,  "and  referred  not  merely  to  the  re-edi- 
fying of  the  cathedral,  but  also  to  the  restoration  of 
ancient  Masonry,  which  was  accomplished  about  the 
same  period,  and  is  supposed  to  have  a  further  allusion 
to  the  revivification  of  the  Order,  by. the  reunion  of 
ancient  and  modern  Masons,  that  was  now  in  progress, 
and  actually  completed  within  a  few  years  from  the 
prese  t  period.  The  preparations  for  this  great  event 
were  already  arranged,  and  our  present  R.  W.  M.,  Bro. 
John  Dent,  was  one  of  the  influential  parties  who 
brought  it  about. 

"He  was  elevated  to  the  chair  on  St.  John's  Day, 
1794,  and  his  inaugural  address  was  received  with  accla- 
mations. It  was  to  this  effect : — 

"' Brethren,  by  a  unanimous  vote  you  have  elevated 
me  to  the  proud  distinction  of  R.  W.  M.  of  one  of  the 
oldest  Lodges  on  record.  Invested  with  the  Jewel  ot 
that  far-famed  architect  Sir  Christopher  Wren,  I  will 
take  especial  care  that  its  brilliancy  shall  not  be  sullied 
in  my  possession.  I  trust  you  will  never  have  occasion 
to  reflect  that  your  confidence  has  been  misplaced.  I 
have  too  high  a  respect  for  the  system  to  allow  its  bene- 
ficial operation  to  be  jeoparded  by  any  species  of  neglect 
or  moral  delinquency;  and  I  trust,  that  while  I  adhere 
to  the  general  Constitutions  of  Masonry,  and  the  pro- 
visions of  our  Bye-Laws  myself,  I  shall  be  enabled,  with 
your  kind  co-operation,  to  prevent  their  infraction  by 
others. 

"'We  have  all  much  to  learn,'  he  continued,  with 
becoming  humility,  '  and  it  will  be  our  own  fault  if  we 

1  Mr.  Brayley  conjectures  that  the  stone  which  was  thus  brought  to 
Sir  Christopher  was  the  same  as  had  been  provided  in  commemora- 
tion of  Dr.  King,  who  preached  the  sermon  before  James  the  First, 
for  promoting  the  rebuilding  of  St.  Paul's ;  and  who  directed  by  his 
will  that  a  plain  stone  only,  with  the  word  EESURGAM,  should  record 
his  memory. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        213 

do  not  gladly  embrace  every  opportunity  which  presents 
itself,  in  the  labours  of  the  Lodge,  of  improving  our 
minds,  and  correcting  our  morals;  for  while  Masonry 
tolerates  private  judgment  in  matters  of  religion  and 
politics,  and  even  forbids  the  introduction  of  questions 
which  may  produce  a  diversity  of  opinion  on  those  ex- 
citing subjects,  it  enters  very  largely  on  the  sacred  duties 
of  morality,  and  expatiates,  with  a  pardonable  enthusi- 
asm, on  almost  all  the  Christian  graces  and  perfections. 

" '  In  the  First  Degree,  we  find  many  types  of  the 
Great  Atonement,  by  which,  according  to  the  repeated 
promises  made  to  the  patriarchs  and  prophets  in  the  Old 
Testament,  original  sin  was  to  be  expiated,  and  mankind 
placed  in  a  condition  of  salvation.  And  the  Lecture 
contains  a  series  of  significant  symbols,  which  inculcate 
the  morality  of  the  New  Testament.  The  first  clause 
exhibits  an  emblem  which  reminds  the  Brethren  of  the 
necessity  of  observing  a  strict  attention  to  silence  or 
secrecy  in  their  commerce  with  the  world,  because  it  is 
a  Jewel  of  inestimable  value,  derived  from,  the  practice 
of  the  Deity,  in  concealing  from  his  creatures  the  secret 
mysteries  of  his  providence.  And  this  is  not  only  the 
duty  of  a  Mason,  but  of  every  person  who  is  desirous  of 
maintaining  a  spotless  reputation  amongst  his  fellows. 
For  instance,  if  a  friend  intrusts  a  secret  to  your  keep- 
ing, it  is  with  a  tacit  understanding  that  it  shall  be  pre- 
served inviolate,  for  a  babbler  or  a  tale-bearer  is  a  char- 
acter universally  despised,  and  deservedly  scouted  from 
civil  society.  He  who  betrays  a  secret  is  guilty  of  treason 
to  his  friend.  What  confidence  can  be  placed  in  any 
one  who  has  been  so  indiscreet  as  to  violate  a  sacred 
pledge?  You  might  as  well  pour  water  into  a  sieve 
under  the  impression  that  it  will  not  escape,  as  to  pour 
your  griefs  and  sorrows  into  the  bosom  of  a  man  who 
will  communicate  to  the  next  person  he  meets  every 
fact  which  you  are  desirous  of  concealing  from  the  world. 

" l  The  same  subject,'  Bro.  Dent  continued,  'is  recurred 
to  in  the  Third  Degree,  where  you  have  each  undertaken 
to  keep  a  Brother's  secrets  as  carefully  as  you  would 
conceal  your  own.  And  for  this  reason,  that  the  betray- 
ing of  such  a  trust  might  do  him  the  greatest  injury  he 
could  possibly  sustain ;  it  wouli  be  like  the  villany  of 
an  assassin,  who  lurks  in  darkness  to  inflict  a  mortal 


214        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

wound  upon  his  adversary  when  unarmed  and  least  pre- 
pared to  meet  an  enemy.  And  so  careful  is  Freemasonry 
in  enforcing  an  observance  of  this  duty,  that  it  forms  a 
part  of  the  solemn  obligation  which  every  Mason  enters 
into  at  his  initiation,  and  is  repeated  with  additional 
solemnity  at  the  commencement  of  each  degree.  And 
it  will  not  be  too  much  to  anticipate  that  by  an  attention 
to  this  one  duty  the  Fraternity  will  prove  themselves 
more  worthy  of  the  confidence  of  their  friends;  and  the 
profession  of  Masonry  will  thus  conduce  not  only  to 
their  own  peace  and  comfort,  but  to  the  general  benefit 
of  society. 

" '  The  E.  A.  P.  Lecture  then  proceeds  to  explain  the 
tendency  of  those  expressive  ceremonies  which  took  place 
at  your  initiation,  for  the  purpose  of  showing  that  the 
most  minute  observance  was  not  without  its  moral  sig- 
nification, and  calculated  to  contribute  its  powerful  aid 
towards  promoting  the  great  design  of  the  Institution, 
the  improvement  of  the  reasoning  faculties,  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  intellect,  and  a  gradual  progress  in  the  science 
of  virtuous  living.  You  are  here  first  introduced  to 
those  Great  Lights  which  are  to  be  your  guides  and 
directors  in  passing  through  the  chequered  scenes  of  good 
and  evil  with  which  this  transitory  world  abounds.  This 
constitutes  the  abiding  excellence  of  the  Order;  for  an 
institution  founded  on  the  covenant  between  God  and 
man  can  never  be  shaken,  unless  its  peculiar  principles 
be  abandoned  by  an  alteration  of  its  standing  landmarks. 
The  Bible  is  the  great  charter  of  a  Mason's  privileges, 
and  the  basis  on  which  he  rests  his  hopes  of  salvation. 
The  Square  teaches  us  our  social  and  relative  duties,  and 
represents  the  golden  rule  which  the  Redeemer  proposed 
as  the  distinguishing  portraiture  of  a  Christian — viz.,  to 
do  to  others  as  we  would  have  them  under  similar  cir- 
cumstances do  to  us; -to  render  strict  justice  in  all  our 
undertakings,  and  to  study  to  promote  the  blessings  of 
order,  harmony,  and  brotherly  love. 

'"Thus,  my  Brethren,  you  will  perceive  that  Freema- 
sonry is  intended  to  make  you  just  and  honest  in  your 
dealings  with  your  fellow-creatures,  and  to  explain  and 
simplify  the  duties  which  the  Christian  religion  enjoins 
on  all  its  sincere  professors,  that  you  may  keep  within 
Compass  with  all  mankind  as  members  of  a  common  faith, 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        215 

in  the  hope  of  sharing  the  rewards  which  are  promised 
to  all  those  who  nobly  earn  the  character  of  good  and 
faithful  servants  of  T.  G.  A.  0.  T.  U.'" 

At  this  point  the  Square  made  an  abrupt  transition, 
for  the  purpose  of  favouring  me  with  a  gratuitous  dis- 
quisition on  the  beauties  of  the  Order.  "Freemasonry," 
he  said,  "is  in  itself  the  most  perfect  and  sublime  Society 
existing  in  the  world  of  mere  human  establishment.  It 
is  calculated  to  promote  the  happiness  and  comfort  of 
all  ranks  and  descriptions  of  men,  when  practised  in  its 
intrinsic  purity.  It  is  a  Society  of  peace,  where  nothing 
is  allowed  to  enter  which  may  disturb  the  equanimity  of 
its  Members.  The  jarring  elements  of  discord  are  ban- 
ished, under  the  presidency  of  a  judicious  governor, 
whose  conduct  tacitly  pronounces  the  ancient  formula  of 
exclusion, 

'Procul,  0  procul  esto  profani !' 

Good  temper  prevails,  and  nothing  is  tolerated  but 
suavity  of  manners,  and  mutual  courtesy  of  deportment. 

"  There  are  many  methods  of  producing  human  felicity, 
and  Masonry  absorbs  them  all.  We  have  science — we 
have  morality — we  have  benevolence — we  have  brother- 
ly love  and  sacred  truth ;  and  how  exalted  soever  may  be 
the  conceptions  of  any  individual  respecting  the  mode 
of  disseminating  universal  happiness,  and  producing  the 
amelioration  of  mankind,  his  ideas  may  be  amply  de- 
veloped, and  his  plans  for  the  advantage  of  his  species 
carried  out  in  the  comprehensive  system  of  Masonry. 
All  the  peculiar  aspirations  of  a  Howard  or  a  Fry  are 
embraced  in  the  wide  grasp  of  masonic  beneficence. 
Peace  on  earth  is  its  object,  Christian  morality  its  prac- 
tice, and  the  rewards  of  virtue  its  end. 

"  Whoever  is  desirous  of  hearing  useful  and  salutary 
doctrines,  should  enter  into  a  Masons'  Lodge,  and  there 
his  wishes  will  be  gratified.  Is  he  anxious  to  learn  what 
will  procure  him  the  veneration  and  respect  of  his 
species?  Let  him  become  acquainted  with  the  Lectures 
of  Masonry;  let  him  mark,  learn,  and  inwardly  digest 
them,  and  his  hopes  will  not  be  disappointed.  Does  he 
require  some  general  rules,  by  the  use  of  which  he  may 
perform  his  duty  to  God  acceptably  ? — Freemasonry  will 
teach  them.  Does  he  wish  to  learn  how  he  may  profit- 
10* 


216  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

ably  discharge  his  duty  to  his  neighbour?  Does  he 
ardently  desire  the  knowledge  of  a  precept  by  which  he 
may  conduct  himself  impartially,  and  with  strict  and 
equal  justice  in  all  his  undertakings? — Let  him  resort  to 
the  Lodge,  and  there  he  will  be  taught  these  invaluable 
maxims.  Does  he  study  to  avoid  the  Scylla  of  intemper- 
ance, or  the  Charybdis  of  slander  and  evil  speaking,  that 
he  rnay  walk  in  the  narrow  path  which  will  preserve  his 
self-respect  without  violating  the  divine  commands? — 
He  may  attain  this  comparative  degree  of  perfection  by 
following  the  teaching  of  Masonry." 

The  Square  now  balancing  upon  one  leg,  and  spinning 
half  round,  continued,  inquiringly,  without  expecting 
me  to  answer,  but  rather  speaking  in  soliloquy — "  And 
what  do  you  think  the  cowans  and  opposers  of  Masonry 
say  to  the  above  statement  ?  Why,"  he  answered,  as  he 
completed  the  circle,  "they  triumphantly  urge — If  this 
be  true,  why  do  you  keep  it  to  yourselves? — why  do 
you  not  reveal  it  for  the  benefit  of  mankind?  And  if  it 
be  not  true,  why  do  you  so  pertinaciously  assert  and 
reiterate  a  falsehood  ?  ITaere's  your  dilemma — shake  your- 
selves clear  of  it  if  you  can. 

"Why,  a  mere  tyro,"  said  the  Square,  "would  easily 
avoid  its  formidable  horns,  by  merely  asking  in  return, 
how  is  it  that  T.  GK  A.  O.  T.  U.  conceals  from  mankind 
the  secret  mysteries  of  his  providence  ?  For  the  wisest 
of  men  cannot  penetrate  into  the  arcana  of  heaven,  nor 
can  they  divine  to-day  what  to-morrow  may  bring  forth. 

"  We  endeavour  to  sustain  our  character  as  Masons 
creditgtly,  by  avoiding  all  meanness  and  dissimulation  ; 
and,  though  we  are  tenacious  of  our  secrets  as  a  belted 
knight  of  his  honour,  yet  we  have  no  wish  to  keep  them 
entirely  to  ourselves,  or  to  withhold  information  from 
any  worthy  man  wno  may  desire  to  participate  legiti- 
mately in  the  benefits  to  be  derived  from  the  Craft.  On 
ihe  contrary,  we  are  ever  ready  to  communicate  our 
mysteries  to  ail  candidates  who  are  freeborn  arid  of  good 
repoit,  it  they  be  willing  to  accept  the  conditions.  For, 
though  w«;  close  our  Lodges  against  impertinent  curi- 
osity, they  are  always  open  to  the  researches  of  liberal 
and  consistent  inquiry. 

"  To  this  argument  o  ±r  impervious  cowan  turns  a  deaf 
ear,  and  cries  out-  -Ba>  !  we  don't  want  to  know  any 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        217 

thing  about  either  you  or  your  mummery,  for  we  consider 
it  to  be  a  wretchedly  selfish  and  exclusive  pursuit. 

"A  most  lame  and  impotent  conclusion,"  said  the 
Square.  "  There  is  nothing  selfish  about  it.  It  is  an 
Open  letter,  which  every  one  may  read — a  rich  mine, 
more  valuable  than  the  gold  of  Ophir,  which  every  worthy 
Brother  may  explore,  and  bear  away  its  exhaustless  trea- 
sures without  diminishing  its  intrinsic  value  ;  nor  did  any 
one  ever  commence  an  earnest  search  into  its  hidden 
stores  without  reaping  an  ample  reward. 

"Another  class  of  Antimasons  object,"  the  Square  pro- 
ceeded to  say,  "  that  we  are  Levellers,  and  strive  to  bring 
down  every  class  of  society  to  an  equality  of  rank,  and, 
therefore,  they  denounce  the  Institution  as  a  dangerous 
nuisance,  which  ought  to  be  abolished. 

"  8b  prejudice  misrepresents  truth,"  replied  my  com- 
municative mentor.  "It  is  admitted  that,  in  masonic 
inquiries,  there  is  a  perfect  equality — not  that  equality 
which  would  level  the  distinctions  of  civil  and  social  life, 
but  a  moral  equality,  which  places  all  mankind  on  a 
level  in  the  eye  of  God,  with  whom  there  is  no  respect 
of  persons.  Can  that  be  a  levelling  system  which  teaches, 
both  by  precept  and  example,  that  every  man  must  con- 
sider himself  subject  to  the  higher  powers?  The  very 
construction  of  Masonry  forms  a  practical  commentary 
on  its  teaching,  for  there  is  no  other  institution  which  is 
so  stringent  in  exacting  a  due  subordination  to  its  rulers 
and  governors,  supreme  and  subordinate.  We  meet  on 
the  level  in  our  mutual  search  after  the  hidden  secrets 
of  science ;  but  our  moral  equality,  even  in  the  Lodge, 
is  moderated  by  the  dictates  of  justice  and  reason;  for 
honourjind  respect  are  uniformly  awarded  to  those  who 
deserve  them,  and  it  is  the  industrious  and  sober  inquirers 
who  realize  the  benefit,  and  not  the  idle  and  dissolute. 

"Our  privileges  arid  advantages  are  strictly  equal," 
the  Square  continued.  "  We  all  start  froin  one  common 
point.  But  the  face  of  things  changes  as  we  proceed ; 
and  individuals  who  have  shown  themselves  earnestly 
desirous  of  meriting  the  esteem  of  the  Fraternity,  are 
sure  to  rise  to  offices  of  distinction ;  while  those  who 
are  careless  and  indifferent,  and  do  not  improve  their 
advantages,  or  who  turn  back,  and,  like  Pliable  in  the 
Pilgrim's  Progress,'  leer  away  on  the  other  side-,  being 


218         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

ashamed  of  what  they  have  done,  will  remain  all  their 
life  long  on  the  threshold,  and  never  emerge  from  the 
slough  of  despond  in  which  their  energies  have  been 
concentrated  and  swallowed  up. 

"I  remember,"  said  the  Square,  "  a  curious  scene 
which  took  place  in  the  Lodge-room,  before  the  Lodge 
was  opened,  which  it  may  be  useful  to  record.  It  was  in 
the  month  of  March,  1797,  the  tyler  having  disposed  the 
Lodge  in  order,  and  laid  the  Officers'  Jewels  on  their  re- 
spective cushions,  when  I  was  surprised  by  the  entrance, 
unusually  early,  of  a  zealous  Brother,  who  looked  cau- 
tiously round  the  Lodge-room  to  ascertain,  as  I  conjec- 
tured, whether  any  other  person  were  present ;  and, 
being  satisfied  that  he  was  alone,  he  slipped  quietly  into 
the  Master's  chair,  and  thus  soliloquized  : — 

"  'Well,  I  think  I  have  half  an  hour  free  from  inter- 
ruption, and  I  will,  therefore,  rehearse  a  section  of  the 
Lecture.  Bro.  S.  W.,  where  did  you  and  I  first  meet  ? 
On  the  Level.  Where  hope  to  part?  On  the  Square. 
And  what  did  you  come  here  to  do  ?' — A  pause. — l  No, 
that's  incorrect — let  me  see — from  whence  come  you? 
From  the  West.  Whither  going?  To  the  East.  What 
for  ?  Pish  !  My  memory  is  once  more  at  fault.  I  wish 
I  knew  the  ritual  as  well  as  our  excellent  R.  W.  M. 
Aye,  now  I  have  it.  What  induced  you  to  leave  the 
West  and  go  to  the  East?  In  search  of  a  Brother,  by 
whom  I  might  be  instructed  in  Masonry.  Capital !  I 
hope  I  shall  not  be  detected.  What  next?  O — who  are 
you  that  want  instruction  ?  A  Free  and  Accepted  Mason. 
If  I  was  Master  of  the  Lodge,  how  I  would  astonish  the 
Brethren!  And  then,  only  think  of  being  addressed  by 
the  honourable  title  of  Right  Worshipful— R.  W.  Sir 
this,  and  R.  W.  Sir  that ;  and,  it  is  the  R.  WorshipfuPs 
will  and  pleasure;  and,  your  commands  shall  be  obeyed, 
R.  W.  Sir.  This  is  the  glory  that  I  covet ;  and  I  trust 
the  Jay  is  not  far  distant  when  these  honours  and  dis- 
tinctions will  be  conferred  upon  me.' 

"And  then  he  proceeded,"  said  the  Square,  "with  his 
agreeable  amusement,  sometimes  right,  and  sometimes 
wrong,  till  he  was  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of  Bro- 
thers Shelton  and  Marshall. 

"'Ha!  Bro.  Bell,'  said  the  new-comers,  'you  are 
early.' 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        219 

"  It  will  be  needless  to  tell  you,"  the  Square  inter- 
posed, "  that  Bro.  Bell  vacated  the  chair  when  he  heard 
them  coming  up  stairs;  and  he  replied,  'I  should  like 
to  know  who  would  not  be  early  when  such  a  treat  is 
provided  for  him  as  the  proceedings  of  a  Masons'  Lodge. 
And  I  have  been  anticipating  the  pleasure  by  endeavour- 
ing to  repeat  a  portion  of  the  Lecture.' 

"  « Misspent  time,  misspent  time,'  Bro.  Shelton  re- 
sponded. 'Who  cares  about  the  Lectures  riow-a-days, 
except,  perhaps,  the  Masters  and  Wardens,  whose  busi- 
ness it  is  to  know  them  perfectly ;  but  to  those  who 
have  no  ambition  for  office,  they  are  little  better  than  a 
bore.' 

"At  this  observation,"  said  the  Square,  "  Bro.  Marshall 
rubbed  his  hands  with  pleasure,  in  the  hope  of  seeing 
Bro.  Bell's  enthusiasm  lowered  ;  for  he  was  known  to  be 
a  zealous  young  man,  who  entertained  a  very  exalted 
opinion  of  the  Order ;  while  such  men  as  Brothers  Shel- 
ton and  Marshall  were  mere  sensualists,  and  embraced 
Freemasonry  for. the  sake  of  its  convivialities  only.  His 
glee  was  not  unobserved  by  Bro.  Bell,  although  he  was 
at  a  loss  to  account  for  it ;  and  he  replied — « I  am  sorry 
to  hear  this,  because  I  can  scarcely  believe  that  you  are 
speaking  the  true  sentiments  of  your  heart.  And  if  such 
really  be  your  opinion,  I  am  bound  to  conclude  that  ifc 
is  singular,  and  not  likely  to  have  many  abettors.  The 
generality  of  our  Brethren  would  unequivocally  repudiate 
such  a  doctrine,  and  entertain  a  very  indifferent  opinion 
of  those  that  avow  it.' 

"  «  You  are  quite  mistaken,'  said  Bro.  Marshall,  full  of 
mischief.  '  A  clear  majority  of  our  Brethren  think  with 
Bro.  Shelton  and  myself  on  this  subject.'  And  he  gave 
d  self-gratulatory  sniff  with  his  nose,  as  if  conscious  that 
he  had  said  a  good  thing. 

"  Bro.  Bell  appeared  to  be  in  the  land  of  dreams," 
said  the  Square.  "  He  muttered  to  himself — '  Is  this 
real?  Are  these  men  hoaxing  me?  Or  am  I  truly 
hearing  stern  though  unpalatable  truths?'  At  length  he 
replied,  '  I  sincerely  hope  and  trust  you  are  joking,  else 
why  do  you  attend  the  Lodge — what  other  inducement 
can  you  possibly  have  ?' 

"*The  two  new-comers  looked  at  each  other  and 
smiled,  as  though  they  would  have  said,  if  they  had  been 


220  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

alone,  that  their  companion  was  rather  verdant  in  his 
ideas.  At  length  Bro.  Shelton  returned — '  It  is  the 
refreshment,  my  dear  Brother,  the  refreshment,  the  cheer- 
ful glass,  the  song  and  toast,  the  laugh,  the  joke,  the 
sparkling  conversation  when  labour  is  suspended.  In 
our  opinion,  to  quote  the  words  of  a  favourite  chorus — 

44  A  bumper,  a  bumper,  a  bumper  of  good  liquor, 
Will  end  a  contest  quicker 
Than  justice,  judge,  or  vicar ; 
So  fill  each  cheerful  glass, 
And  let  good  humour  pass. 

*4  But  if  more  deep  the  quarrel, 
I'd  sooner  drain  the  barrel, 
Than  be  that  hateful  fellow, 
That's  crabbed  when  he's  mellow. 
So  fill  each  cheerful,  glass, 
And  let  good  humour  pass." 

Besides,  what  is  Freemasonry  intrinsically,  that  you 
would  so  earnestly  entreat  us  to  fall  down  and  worship 
it?' 

"  «  I'll  tell  you  what  it  is,'  Bro.  Bell  replied ;  *  it  is 
a  beautiful  system  of  morality,  veiled  in  allegory,  and 
illustrated  by  symbols.' 

"  *  Illustrated,'  said  Bro.  Shelton,  with  a  sneer.  *  Sym- 
bols are  mentioned,  I  admit,  in  what  you  term  the  Lec- 
tures, but  not  by  any  means  illustrated;  and  I  should 
like  to  know,  if  you  can  tell  me,  why,  in  that  technical 
code  on  which  we  are  expected  to  pin  our  faith,  the 
illustrations  are  so  meagre? 

"  *  A  fair  question,'  Bro.  Bell  responded,  *  and  shall  be 
fairly  answered.  It  would  be  difficult, ~and  perhaps  im- 
possible, to  give  a  complete  explanation  of  our  symbols 
in  any  course  of  Lodge  Lectures,  because  they  are  neces- 
sarily compressed  into  as  narrow  a  compass  as  may  be 
consistent  with  perspicuity,  that  human  ingenuity  may  be 
able  to  devise.  The  emblems  are  so  numerous  and  diversi- 
fied, and  admit  of  such  an  extensive  application,  that 
volumes  would  be  required  to  contain  all  that  might  be  said 
on  this  interesting  subject.  And,  therefore,  those  who 
aspire  to  a  superior  knowledge  of  Masonry,  and  are  de- 
sirous of  becoming  distinguished  Members  of  the  Craft, 
will  not  be  contented  with  simply  mastering  the  Lodge 
Lectures,  ample  though  they  be,  but  will  aspire,  by 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF»  A  SQUARE.         221 

using  the  accessories  of  reading,  study,  and  serious  medi- 
tation, to  something  of  a  higher  character,  which  may 
enable  them  to  enlighten  the  Brethren,  when  they  shall 
be  called  on  to  rule  the  Lodge,  by  imparting  the  fruits 
of  their  own  experience,  and  by  amplifying  and  explain- 
ing, in  detail,  the  recondite  mysteries  embodied  in  types 
and  symbols,  as  well  as  the  doctrines  of  morality,  which 
are  veiled  and  hidden  under  an  expressive  series  of  sig- 
nificant allegories.' 

"  *  Allegories,  indeed !'  Bro.  Marshall  interposed. 
*  Su-ch  as  neither  you' nor  I,  nor  any  other  person  can 
possibly  understand.  And  what  benefit  can  be  derived 
from  such  an  unprofitable  course  of  study  and  research?1 

"  *  None  whatever,'  chimed  in  Bro.  Shelton. 

"  *  I  crave  your  pardon,  Brethren,'  said  Bro.  Bell ;  '  on 
the  contrary,  the  profit  will  do  infinitely  more  than  com- 
pensate for  the  labour.  It  is  clear  to  me,  that  whoever 
shall  pursue  this  laudable  course  earnestly  and  assidu- 
ously, may  very  reasonably  expect  that  it  will  be  attended 
with  success.  It  will  make  him  a  wiser  and  a  better 
man,  and  secure  for  him  a  place  amongst  the  venerated 
names  by  which  our  Society  is  dignified,  and  whom  we 
delight  to  honour.  The  Craft  will  respect  him;  the 
world  will  admire  him ;  and  his  name  will  descend  to 
posterity,  crowned  with  glory  and  immortality.' 

"  '  Pshaw  !'  said  Bro.  Shelton.  '  It  is  nothing  but  an 
unsubstantial  shadow.  Concealment  is  useless.  The  con- 
vivialities of  Masonry  are  the  only  inducements  which 
draw  us  to  the  Lodge.  And  as  the  Welsh  peasantry  are 
seldom  absent  from  the  sermon,  on  account  of  a  sub- 
sidiarv  dance  which  follows  the  service,  so  we  are  will- 
ing to  endure  the  tiresome  Lecture,  because  we  know 
that,  like  all  other  inflictions,  each  clause  must  have  an 
end,  and  the  Lodge  be  called  from  labour  to  refreshment. 
The  sections  are  not  very  lengthy;  and,  at  the  close  of 
each,  our  forbearance  is  rewarded  with  an  appropriate 
toast  and  song.  And  now  you  know  the  reason  why  we 
attend  the  Lodge.' 

"  Having  said  this,  Bro.  Shelton  turned  away,  and 
walked  to  the  fire  with  an  air  which  indicated  that,  after 
such  an  avowal,  nothing  further  could  be  advanced  on 
the  subject. 

"Now,  you  will  understand,"  said  the  Square,  "that 


222         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

Bros.  Shelton  and  Marshall  belonged  to  a  certain  part) 
in  the  Lodge  which  constituted  a  feeble  and  unirifluential 
minority;  and  they  all  entertained  similar  opinions  on 
the  uses  and  enjoyments  of  Masonry.  It  is  also  proba- 
ble that  every  Lodge  in  the  kingdom  might  exhibit  a  few — 
some  more  and  some  less — of  the  same  species;-  men  who 
entertain  no  respect  for  the  science,  and  care  little  about 
the  honours  of  Masonry.  Their  sole  enjoyment  centres 
in  its  convivialities,  and  they  are  callous  to  every  other 
incitement.  Each  of  these  worthies  could  swallow,  and 
carry  off,  without  much  inconvenience,  his  two  bottles 
of  wine  on  festive  occasions,  although,  thanks  to  the 
general  regulations  of  the  Craft,  this  was  practicable  only 
at  the  quarterly  suppers,  and  they  seldom  failed  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  so  favourable  an  opportunity.  Now,  although 
these  propensities  were  no  secret  to  the  Brethren  with 
whom  they  were  associated,  yet,  as  they  were  sufficiently 
discreet  to  appear  orderly  and  attentive  during  the  de- 
livery of  the  Lectures,  it  was  scarcely  supposed  that 
they  held  them  in  contempt ;  and,  therefore,  when  Bro. 
Shelton  made  the  above  explicit  acknowledgment,  Bro. 
Bell  exclaimed,  in  the  utmost  surprise,  at  an  open  avowal 
which  had  never  so  much  as  entered  into  his  imagination 
—  in  fact,  he  believed  all  Masons  to  be  as  enthusiastic  as 
himself — '  As  the  Irishman  says,  this  beats  Bannagher, 
if  you  be  really  in  earnest !' 

"  *  Never  was  more  earnest  in  my  life.'  Bro.  Shelton 
replied,  as  he  stood  with  his  hands  behind  him,  and  his 
back  to  the  fire;  'and  more  than  that,  many  of  our 
Brethren  entertain  the  same  feeling.  What  say  you, 
Mike?' 

"  '  I,  for  one,  quite  agree  with  you,'  Bro.  Marshall 
responded.  '  I  do  not  care  a  fig  for  the  Lecture,  or  any 
such  trumpery  The  stoup,  the  flagon,  and  the  bicker 
are  my  favourite  symbols,  and  I  love  them  better  than 
Square,  Level,  and  Plumb.  And  no  exercise  is  so  agreea- 
ble to  me  as  charging,  firing,  and  driving  piles.' 

'  Give  us  some  punch,  and  let  it  be  strong, 
And  we'll  drink  to  the  man  that  sang  the  last  song/ 

"  '  Hip  !  hip  !  hip  !  Three  times  three !  Hurrah ! 
That's  my  taste!' 

" '  Then,'  replied  Bro.  Bell,   <  you  have  opened  my 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         223 

eyes  to  an  astounding  fact,  which  nothing  short  of  your 
own  confession  could  have  induced  me  to  believe.  But 
since  you  are  so  intensely  devoted  to  these  pursuits, 
perhaps  you  are  able  at  least  to  tell  me  the  masonic 
origin  of  this  three  times  three,  which  seems  to  mono- 
polize your  enthusiasm.' 

"  The  two  Brethren  were  perplexed,"  said  the  Square. 
"  It  was  a  puzzling  question,  and  they  looked  rather 
sheepish  at  being  obliged  to  confess  their  ignorance 
respecting  their  own  estimate  of  the  peculiar  excellence 
of  Freemasonry.  At  length  they  acknowledged  that 
they  could  not  tell. 

"  '  I  thought  as  much,'  said  Bro.  Bell.  '  It  was 
scarcely  to  be  expected,  with  such  views  and  propensities, 
that  you  would  be  able  to  say  your  own  catechism. 
And  I  dare  say  you  will  thank  me  for  enlightening  you 
on  the  subject.' 

"  '  They  should  gladly  acknowledge  the  obligation,' 
they  replied,  '  although  the  enjoyment  was  not  lessened 
because  they  were  ignorant  of  its  origin.' 

"•  '  You  must  know  then,'  Bro.  Bell  resumed,  '  that  in 
ancient  times  the  E.  A.  P.  degree  was  alone  prevalent 
amongst  the  generality  of  our  Lodges;  for  no  Brother 
could  be  passed  and  raised  except  in  the  Grand  Lodge,  and 
few  availed  themselves  of  the  privilege.  Hence  they  had 
only  one  sign,  one  token,  and  one  word,  and  these  three 
constituted  the  honours.  But  the  Members  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  had  three  signs,  three  tokens,  and  three  words,  and, 
therefore,  three  times  three  were  appropriately  termed 
the  Grand  honours.  By  subsequent  arrangements  the 
power  of  conferring  all  the  degrees  has  been  conveyed 
to  every  Lodge  under  the  Constitution  of  England,  and 
the  Grand  honours  have  passed  aloig  with  this  privilege. 
Hence,  all  private  Lodges  are  now  at  liberty  to  use  them 
at  their  pleasure.  But  you  would  not  surely  have  me  to 
understand  that  you  really  prefer  toasts  and  songs,  and 
such  rubbish,  to  the  sublime  speculations  of  pure  masonic 
inquiry.' 

"'I  should  be  glad  to  know,'  replied  Bro.  Shelton, 
'  what  you  call  pure  masonic  inquiry,  apart  from  the 
rubbish,  as  you  ignorniniously  term  it,  of  the  elements  oi 
conviviality  ?  Or,  .in  plainer  language,  what,  in  your 
opinion,  is  the  distinguishing  characteristic  of  a  Mason  ? 


224         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

"  *  Virtue  and  decency,  which  ought  always  to  be 
found  in  every  true  Mason's  breast,'  answered  Bro.  Bell, 
in  the  very  words  of  the  Lecture. 

"  *  And  how  do  you  describe  virtue,  as  a  Mason?'  Bro. 
Marshall  asked. 

"  '  Virtue  is  the  highest  exercise  of  the  mind,'  said 
Bro.  Bell,  with  some  degree  of  enthusiasm  in  his  man- 
ner ;  '  the  integrity,  harmony,  and  just  balance  of  affec- 
tion ;  the  health,  strength,  and  beauty  of  the  soul.  The 
perfection  of  virtue  is  to  give  a  full  scope  to  reason  ;  to 
obey  with  alacrity  the  dictates  of  conscience  ;  to  exercise 
the  defensive  passions  with  fortitude,  the  public  with 
justice,  and  the  private  with  temperance,  each  in  its 
due  proportion.  To  love  and  adore  God,  and  to  acqui- 
esce in  his  kind  Providence  with  calm  resignation,  is  the 
surest  step  towards  testing  our  virtue,  and  an  approach 
to  perfection  and  happiness ;  as  a  deviation  therefrom  is 
to  that  of  vice  and  misery.  Such  is  virtue  as  it  is 
described  in  the  Lectures  of  Masonry.  But  independ- 
ently of  this,  have  you  no  pride  in  the  privilege  of  meet- 
ing friends  and  Brothers  in  a  just  and  perfect  Lodge, 
where  we  feel  that  we  are  companions  of  princes  and 
Brothers  of  kings  ?' 

"  '  Absurd  !'  exclaimed  Bro.  Shelton.  '  How  can  we 
be  the  Brothers  of  kings  ?' 

"  *  Because,'  said  Bro.  Bell,  *  a  king,  like  ourselves,  is 
but  a  man  ;  and  though  a  crown  may  adorn  his  head, 
and  a  sceptre  his  hand,  yet  the  blood  in  his  veins  is 
derived  from  the  common  parent  of  mankind,  and  is  no 
better  than  that  of  his  meanest  subject.  But  Freema- 
sonry teaches  us  to  regard  our  superiors  with  peculiar 
esteem  when  we  see  them  divested  of  external  grandeur, 
and  condescending,  fn  a  badge  of  innocence  and  bond  of 
friendship,  to  trace  wisdom,  and  to  follow  virtue,  assisted 
by  those  who  are  of  a  rank  beneath  them.  Virtue  is 
true  nobility ;  wisdom  is  the  channel  by  which  virtue  is 
directed  and  conveyed  ;  wisdom  and  virtue  only  can  dis- 
tinguish us  as  Masons.' 

"  '  You  said,  if  I  understood  you  rightly,'  Bro.  Shelton 
replied,  <  a  just  and  perfect  Lodge.  Now,  I  should  like 
to  know  what  you  mean  by  a  just  and  perfect  Lodge  ?' 

"  '  It  is  technical,'  Bro.  Bell  answered,  '  and  is  thus 
explained  by  a  passage  in  our  ordinary  Lectures,  which 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        226 

I  should  have  thought,  as  you  must  have  frequently  heard 
it,  would  have  been  perfectly  familiar  to  you.  The  Holy 
Bible,  which  is  the  primary  supreme  grand  archive  of 
Masonry,  renders  a  Lodge  just,  because  it  contains  that 
Sacred  History  which  has  been  handed  down  to  us  by 
Moses,  the  Grand  Master  of  the  Lodge  of  Israel,  and  an 
inspired  writer  of  God's  commands.  It  also  contains  the 
writings  of  the  prophets  and  apostles,  together  with  a 
revelation  of  all  the  most  eminent  virtues,  both  moral 
and  divine  ;  the  incitement  of  our  love  and  fear  of  God, 
the  origin  of  all  wisdom.  It  inspires  us  with  spiritual 
discernment,  enables  us  to  practise  the  above  virtues, 
which  will  confer  the  blessings  of  peace  and  comfort  here, 
with  a  full  assurance  of  celestial  happiness  in  the  world 
to  come.  The  perfection  of  a  Lodge  relates  to  number  ; 
and,  as  you  well  know,  cannot  be  held  in  the  absence  of 
its  R.  W.  M.,  Wardens,  and  certain  other  Brethren.' 

"  '  However  this  may  be,'  said  Bro.  Marshall,  '  you 
cannot  deny  but  the  custom  of  renunciation  by  a  shoe  is 
childish  and  unmeaning.' 

"  *  I  am  not  prepared  to  make  any  such  admission,' 
Bro.  Bell  replied.  'It  is  a  good  custom,  and  an  ancient. 
In  the  eastern  parts  of  the  world,  when  an  inferior  per- 
son paid  his  respects  to  a  prince  or  noble,  he  took  off  his 
shoes,  as  a  symbol  of  humility,  and  left  them  outside  the 
door  of  the  apartment  where  the  audience  was  granted. 
This  custom  was  also  observed  during  the  performance  of 
religious  worship,  and  probably  originated  in  the  inter- 
view which  Jehovah  vouchsafed  to  Moses  at  the  Burning 
Bush,  where  the  latter  was  commanded  to  take  his  shoes 
from  off  his  feet,  because  the  ground  on  which  he  stood 
was  holy.  You  have  truly  observed,  that  taking  off  a 
shoe  is  a  token  of  renunciation.  Amongst  the  Jews,  when 
a  man  died  childless,  his  nearest  relation  was  bound  to 
marry  the  widow.  If,  however,  it  was  inconvenient  to 
perform  this  duty,  he  took  off  his  shoe  in  the  presence 
of  competent  witnesses,  and  passed  it  to  the  next  of  kin, 
as  a  legal  token  that  he  renounced  his  claim  ;  arid  thus 
the  inheritance  was  transferred.  We  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons  copy  the  usage,  to  intimate  that  we  renounce  our 
own  will  and  pleasure  in  all  matters  of  Masonry,  and 
undertake  to  render  due  obedience  to  its  excellent  laws 
and  regulations.' 


226  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

'  '  And  you  call  this  a  sublime  speculation,'  said  Bro. 
Marshall.  '  Heaven  defend  me  from  the  misery  of  such 
far-fetched  elucidations!'  Arid  the  recusants  indulged 
themselves  in  a  hearty  laugh. 

"  Bro.  Bell  was  thunderstruck,"  said  the  Square.  "  He 
looked  earnestly,  first  at  one,  and  then  at  the  other,  being 
uncertain  what  argument  to  apply  in  a  dilemma  that  he 
had  never  so  much  as  contemplated.  As  a  lover  of  pure 
Masonry,  he  did  not  believe  it  possible  for  any  Brother, 
who  had  been  regularly  initiated,  had  attended  the  Lodge 
meetings  with  moderate  punctuality,  as  the  two  Brothers 
before  him  had  uniformly  done,  and,  consequently,  had 
heard  the  sublime  doctrines  which  were  periodically  pro- 
mulgated there, — the  pure  morality, — the  strong  incen- 
tives to  virtue — the  teaching  of  active  benevolence  and 
God-like  charity,  accessible  by  the  steps  of  faith  and 
hope — he  had  never  reflected,  I  say,  on  the  possibility  of 
a  nature  capable  of  proving  callous  to  these  impressions, 
or  impervious  to  the  salutary  workings  of  a  course  of 
discipline  so  fructifying  to  the  soul  of  man.  He  could 
scarcely  believe  his  ears. 

"  It  never  occurred  to  himt"  the  Square  continued, 
"  that  these  men  were  specimens  of  a  class — that,  as 
confirmed  bon  vivants,  and  wedded  to  the  habits  of  hard 
drinking  which  characterized  the  period,  they  had  no 
taste  for  the  refinements  of  science,  or  the  beauties  of 
virtue.  What !  he  thought  to  himself,  is  it  possible  that 
the  husk  should  be  preferred  to  the  fruit — the  chaff  to 
the  grain — brass  to  gold  ?  Can  a  Mason  be  so  perfectly 
insensate  as  to  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  the  most  sublime  pre- 
cepts ever  offered  to  the  consideration  of  a  being  designed 
for  immortality?  Can  the  carnal  so  far  preponderate 
over  the  spiritual  as  to  stupify  the  feelings,  and  make 
them  insensible  to  the  aspirations  of  such  a  pure  and  holy 
morality  as  is  enunciated  in  the  teaching  of  a  Masons' 
Lodge  ? 

"He  looked  at  them  again,  supposing  he  might  be 
under  some  disagreeable  hallucination,  that  cast  a  baleful 
influence  over  his  judgment ;  but  there  they  stood  visibly 
before  him,  with  the  broad  grin  of  undisguised  amuse- 
ment still  upon  their  faces,  enjoying  the  unmistakable 
marks  of  astonishment  which  he  so  visibly  displayed. 
How  long  he  would  have  stood,  or  what  might  have 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        227 

been  the  ultimate  result  of  his  mental  deliberations,  it 
may  be  difficult  to  say,  for  they  were  cut  short  by  Bro. 
Shelton,  who  said,  as  if  for  the  purpose  of  diverting  the 
conversation  into  a  new  channel,  '  You  know  that  noisy 
and  troublesome  fellow  Browne,  don't  you?' 

"  <  Of  the  Corinthian  Lodge,  No.  188,  Strand,5  said 
Bro.  Bell. 

"'The  same.' 

"  '  I  know  him  for  no  good,'  Bro.  Bell  responded.  *  I 
am  told  that  his  chief  pleasure  consists  in  keeping  the 
Lodge  in  hot  water,  by  fomenting  disputes  among  the 
Brethren.' 

"  'And  proposing  subjects  for  discussion,'  added  Bro. 
Marshall,  '  on  which  he  knows  there  exists  a  diversity  of 
opinion,  for  the  purpose  of  gloating,  like  the  agent  of 
evil,  over  the  confusion  which  he  has  himself  created.' 

"  l  A  delectable  amusement  truly,'  said  Bro.  Bell ; 
1  but  what  of  him  ?' 

" «  He  was  ambitious  of  becoming  Master  of  the  Lodge 
at  the  last  election  of  officers,'  returned  Bro.  Shelton; 

*  but  the  Members,  under  the  apprehension  of  a  stormy 
year,  if  the  power  were  placed  in  such  dubious  hands, 
rejected    him   in  favour  of  a   much  younger  but  more 
peaceable  Brother  ;  and  he  was  so  exasperated  by  defeat, 
that  he  withdrew  himself  from  the  Lodge.' 

"  '  To  the  unfeigned  satisfaction  of  all  the  Brethren,' 
Bro.  Bell  interposed. 

" '  You    may  truly    say  that,'    added   Bro.   Shelton ; 

*  but  further — in  revenge,  he  threatens  to  disclose  the 
secret.'    . 

"  '  He  may  threaten  with  safety,'  said  Bro.  Bell ;  '  but 
fortunately  it  is  not  in  his  power  to  execute  any  such 
design.  Let  him  make  the  attempt,  and  he  will  know, 
by  experience,  how  few  persons  ar»e  to  be  found  who 
will  extend  their  credit  to  a  self-proclaimed  perjurer. 
Besides,  he  cannot  betray  a  secret  which  he  does  not 
know.' 

"  '  Not  know  !'  exclaimed  Bro.  Shelton,  in  unfeignec 
amazement,  *  what  do  you  mean  ?  With  all  his  faults 
he  has  the  reputation  of  being  a  clever  and  intelligen 
Mason.' 

"  *  Granted,'  Bro.  Bell  replied ;  «  but  he  stll  may  be 


228         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

profoundly  ignorant  of  the  peculiar  secrets  of  the 
Order.'2 

" '  Explain,  explain,'  said  Bro.  Marshall,  '  you  speak 
in  riddles.' 

"  '  That  is  easily  done.  I  dare  say  you  both  think,  as 
he  doubtless  does,  that  you  are  acquainted  with  the 
secret  of  Masonry,  and  that  you  could  easily  divulge  it 
if  you  were  so  inclined.  It  is  quite  a  mistake,  my  dear 
fellows.  You  know  nothing  about  the  matter.  The 
true  secrets  are  of  a  deep  and  recondite  nature,  and  not 
so  easily  mastered.' 

"  The  two  Brothers,"  said  the  Square,  "  looked  the 
picture  of  surprise  and  incredulity,  while  Bro.  Bell 
went  on. 

"  «  You  would  like  me  to  tell  you  what  the  secrets  are  ; 
but  I  am  in  great  doubt  respecting  my  ability  to  gratify 
you.  Ask  Franklin  whether  he  understands  the  secrets 
of  electricity,  and  he  will  promptly  answer  in  the  nega- 
tive. He  has  devoted  his  life  to  its  improvement,  but 
the  secret  remains  undiscovered.  Ask  Watt  whether  he 
knows  the  secret  power  of  steam,  and  you  will  receive 
the  same  reply.  What  did  the  learned  Bishop  Sanderson 
say  about  the  secret  or  mystery  of  godliness  ?  Why,  he 
said  that  we  may  as  well  think  to  grasp  the  earth  in  our 
fist,  or  to  empty  the  sea  with  a  pitcher,  as  to  compre- 
hend these  heavenly  mysteries  within  our  narrow  under- 
standing. Puteus  altus  ;  the  well  is  deep,  and  our  buck- 
ets, for  want  of  cordage,  will  not  reach  near  the  bottom.3 
No,  no ;  I  am  under  no  apprehension  of  any  untoward 
consequences  from  the  revelations  of  such  a  stupid  fellow 
as  Bro,  Browne.4  Besides,  what  sort  of  character  at- 

2  Browne  himself  tacitly  acknowledges  this  in  his  Introduction  ; 
where  he  says,  "  to  those  who  are  not  Masons  the  author  is  well  con- 
vinced that  he  has  by  no  means  revealed  any  of  the  masonic  myste- 
ries ;  and  by  printing  it  in  this  abstruse  manner  he  defies  them  to 
make  out  any  part.     And  were  even  that  possible,  they  would  be 
just  in  the  situation  of  one  who  should  attempt  to  fire  a  pistol  without 
powder,  or  erect  a  stately  fabric  without  tools  or  materials." 

3  Sermon,  ad  Aulam,  on  1  Tim.  iii.,  16. 

4  There  had  already   been  published  an  attempted  revelation  of 
certain  mysteries  of  Masonry  in  a  work  entitled  "  Remarkable  Ruins 
and  Romantic  Prospects  of  North  Britain,  by  Charles  Cordiner,  of 
Banff."     London,  Taylor,  1795.     In  this  book  the  author  founds  a 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         229 

taches  to  a  man  who  attempts  to  divulge  the  mysteries 
of  Masonry  ?  Horace  is  very  explicit  on  this  point.  He 
says, — 

*  Vetabo,  qui  Cereris  sacrum 

Vulgarit  arcanae,  sub  iisdem 

Sit  trabibus,  fragilemque  mecum 
Sol  vat  phaselum ;' 

and  so  say  I.  And  he  adds,  '  est  et  fideli  tuta  silentto 
merces  ;'  there  is  a  certain  reward  for  a  faithful  silence.1 

"  '  But  my  good  Brother,'  said  Bro.  Shelton,  '  whether 
he  be  capable  of  disclosing  the  secret  or  not,  he  may 
publish  the  Lectures  and  ceremonies.' 

"  '  You  mean  his  version  of  them,'  replied  Bro.  Bell ; 
•but  who  will  vouch  for  their  accuracy?5  He  is  not 

theory  of  initiation  on  the  device  of  the  Abbey  Seal  of  Arbroath,  in 
the  following  words : — "  This  seal,  of  which  I  have  given  an  engra- 
ving, evidently  represents  some  formidable  ceremony  in  a  sacred 
place.  Where  a  pontiff  presides  in  state,  one  hand  on  his  breast, 
expressive  of  seriousness  ;  the  other  stretched  out  at  a  right  angle, 
holding  a  rod  and  cross,  the  badge  of  high  office ;  while  he  makes 
some  awful  appeals  respecting  a  suppliant,  who,  in  a  loose  robe, 
blindfolded,  with  seeming  terror,  kneels  before  the  steps  of  an  altar, 
as  undergoing  some  severe  humiliation  ;  while  several  attendants, 
with  drawn  swords,  brandish  them  over  his  head.  As  some  explana- 
tion of  the  above,  it  may  be  observed  that  there  is  a  remarkable  con- 
currence of  design  and  resemblance  of  persons  and  attitudes,  in  the 
figures  of  the  above  seal,  with  those  in  a  print  accompanying  a 
pamphlet  on  Masonry,  published  by  an  officer  at  Berlin  ;  and  this  is 
the  more  worthy  of  notice,  because  he  there  gives  an  account  of  the 
ceremonies  of  initiation ;  and  the  prints  are  apposite  representations 
of  them.  That  which  exhibits  the  manner  of  administering  the  tre- 
mendous oath  of  secresy,  and  of  receiving  the  rudiments  of  the 
occult  science  at  the  communication  of  the  first  beams  of  light,  is  a 
pretty  exact  counterpart  of  the  figures  on  the  seal."  The  original 
seal  of  the  abbey  isvin  my  possession,  and  represents  the  death  of 
Thomas  a  Becket,  to  whom  the  abbey  was  dedicated. 

6  Browne  executed  and  published  his  trumpery  under  the  title  of 
"  Browne's  Masonic  Master  Key  throughout  the  Three  Degrees,  by 
way  of  Polyglot,  under  the  sanction  of  the  Craft  in  general.  Con- 
taining the  exact  mode  of  working,  initiation,  passiifg.  and  raising  to 
the  sublime  degree  of  a  Master.  Also  the  several  duties  of  the  Mas- 
ter, Officer,  and  Brethren  while  in  the  Lodge ;  with  every  requisite 
to  render  the  accomplished  Mason.  An  Explanation  of  all  the  hiero- 
glyphics. The  whole  interspersed  with  Illustrations  on  Theology, 
Astronomy,  Architecture,  Arts,  Sciences,  &c. ;  many  of  which  are 
by  the  Editor.  By  John  Browne,  P.  M.  of  six  Lodges,  and  M.  A.' 
London,  Printed  and  sold  by  the  Editor,  No.  60,  Snowhill.^  Price 
Five  Shillings  and  Sixpence,  interleaved.  First  Edition,  1798.  Se- 
cond Edition,  with  additions,  1802. 


230         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

the  first,  nor  will  he  be  the  last,  who  has  decried,  and 
attempted  to  expose  to  public  contempt,  our  flourishing 
Institution  ;  as  evil  birds  always  prey  on  the  sweetest 
fruit.  Like  Virgil's  harpies,  they  endeavour  to  spoil  what 
they  have  not  the  taste  to  enjoy. 

*  At  subitas  horrifico  lapsu  de  montibus  adsunt 
Harpy  ias,  et  magnis  quntiunt  clangoribus  alas  : 
Diripiuntque  dapes,  contactuque  omnia  foedant 
Immundo  ;  tuin  vox  tetruin  dira  inter  odorem.' 

Hi.,  225. 


"  1  1  shall  not  certainly  vouch  for  the  accuracy  of  his 
disclosures,'  said  Bro.  Shelton  ;  *  for  in  the  ordinary 
affairs  of  life  his  veracity  is  by  no  means  to  be  relied  on. 
And  if  he  anticipates  that  the  profits  of  his  threatened 
publication  will  be  sufficiently  remunerative  to  liquidate 
his  debts,  he  may  probably  find  himself  mistaken.' 

"  '  0,'  replied  Bro.  Bell,  '  as  to  the  profit  of  his  experi- 
meat,  I  should  conceive  it  would  be  the  very  last  con- 
sideration that  would  influence  a  man  like  Browne.  His 
principal  object  would  be  to  gratify  his  egregious  vanity 
by  the  indulgence  of  his  pique  against  a  Society  which 
has  virtually  repudiated  him.  His  vain-glorious  promises 
may  be  classed  in  the  same  category  with  those  of  Dean 
Swift's  Rosicrucian,  who  thus  addresses  his  besotted 
dupes.  *  Look  here,  ye  blind  and  ignorant  neophytes, 
and  be  enlightened  by  me.  I  have  couched  a  very  pro- 
found mystery  in  the  number  of  Os  multiplied  by  seven, 
and  divided  by  nine.  Also,  if  a  devout  Brother  will  pray 
fervently  for  sixty-three  mornings,  with  a  lively  faith, 
and  then  transpose  certain  letters  and  syllables  according 
to  prescription,  in  the  second  and  fifth  sections,  they  will 
certainly  reveal  into  a  full  receipt  of  the  Opus  Magnum. 
Lastly,  whoever  will  be  at  the  pains  to  calculate  the 
whole  number  of  each  letter  in  my  MASTER  KEY,  and 
sum  up  the  difference  exactly  between  the  several  num- 
bers, assigning  the  true  natural  cause  for  every  such  dif- 
ference ;  the  discoveries  in  the  product  will  plentifully 
reward  his  labour.  But  then  he  must  beware  of  by  thus 
and  sige;  and  be  sure  not  to  forget  the  qualities  of  aca- 
moth  ;  d  cujus  lacrymis  humecta  prodit  substantial^  d  risu 
lucida,  d  tristitia  solida,  et  d  timore  mobilis." 

"  'Ha!  ha!  ha!  very  good!'  exclaimed  Brothers  Shel- 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        231 

ton  and  Marshall  together.  '  I  could  almost  fancy,'  the 
former  added,  '  I  see  Bro.  Browne  standing  on  a  barrel- 
end  in  the  midst  of  an  indiscriminate  mob,  and  vending 
his  wares,  like  a  miserable  quack  doctor,  in  the  very 
words  you  have  put  into  his  mouth.  Did  you  never  see 
such  an  empiric,  Bro.  Bell,  with  a  score  or  two  of  gaping 
rustics  about  him,  recommending  his  trumpery  nostrums 
for  all  the  ailments  of  life,  by  an  unwearied  repetition  of 
the  same  unintelligible  gibberish?' 

"  'There  is  no  want  of  quacks,'  Bro.  Bell  replied,  '  to 
batten  on  the  simple  gullibility  of  John  Bull;  and  I 
should  not  be  surprised  if  he  eagerly  swallows  the  impo- 
sitions of  our  faithless  Bro.  Browne,  and  confers  upon  him 
the  questionable  distinction  of  an  unenviable  notoriety.' 

"  'But  it  is  no  matter,'  Bro.  Shelton  chimed  in.  '  The 
very  possibility  of  committing  such  a  base  encr6achment 
on  our  rights  and  privileges,  forms,  in  my  opinion,  a 
cogent  argument  against  allowing  every  Brother  to 
become  master  of  the  secret.  Bro.  Marshall  and  I  have 
no  such  ambition.  We  are  fully  contented  with  our 
share  of  the  convivialities,  without  wishing  to  understand 
more  of  Masonry  than  is  contained  in  the  songs  and 
toasts.' 

" '  The  rest,'  said  Bro.  Marshall  bluntly,  '  is  all  hum- 
bug!' 

"  'Humbug!'  exclaimed  Bro.  Bell,  his  blood  rising  to 
boiling  heat, — and  I  do  not  know  what  might  have  en- 
sued," said  the  Square,  "if  the  entrance  of  the  R.  W.  M., 
and  several  Brethren,  who  had  been  waiting  for  him  in  the 
Tyler's  room,  had  not  put  an  end  to  the  conversation. 
Brothers  Shelton  and  Marshall  were  amused  by  his  excite- 
ment ;  for  it  is  quite  true  that  they  were  kept  in  coun- 
tenance by  many  Brethren,  who  were  unfortunately  more 
attached  to  refreshment  than  to  labour." 

11 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

BEGGING    MASONS. STEPHEN    JONES. 

1798—1800. 


**  Old  men  for  the  most  part  are  like  old  chronicles,  that  give  yon 
dull  but  true  accounts  of  time  past,  and  are  worth  knowing  only  on 
that  score." — SWIFT. 

"Late  hours,  irregularities  that  impair  the  health  of  the  body,  and 
much  more  the  faculties  of  the  mind,  create  and  increase  family 
dissensions,  and  reflect  a  dishonour  on  Freemasonry,  from  which  its 
intrinsic  excellence  cannot  at  all  times  redeem  it  in  the  public 
opinion." — STEPHEN  JONES. 

"  There's  a  difference  between 
A  beggar  and  a  queen, 

And  I'll  tell  you  the  reason  why ; 
A  queen  cannot  swagger, 
Nor  get  drunk  like  a  beggar, 
Nor  be  half  so  happy  as  I." 

BRO.  JAMES  ROBERTSON. 


"!T  was  said  by  a  periodical' writer  of  the  eighteenth 
century,"  the  Square  observed,  in  continuation  of  his 
interesting  remarks,  "  while  describing  the  abuses  of 
science, — '  As  this  supposititious  learning  diffuses  itself, 
the  manner  in  which  it  operates  upon  the  new  provinces 
of  life  on  which  it  encroaches,  how  soon  it  accommodates 
itself  to  a  new  range  of  subjects,  elevates  the  low, 
amplifies  the  little,  and  decorates  the  vulgar.  There  is 
now  no  occupation  so  mean  into  which  it  has  not  found 
its  way,  and  whose  consequence  it  has  not  raised,  from 
the  maker  of  geometrical  breeches^  to  the  manufacturer 
of  manuscript  sermons.  We  all  begin  to  exalt  our  tones 
and  pretensions,  and  adopt  a  prouder  language.  Mr. 
Powell,  the  fire-eater,  is  a  singular  genius;  and  Mendoza 
has  more  science  than  Johnson.  I  have  heard  of  hiero- 
glyphical  buckles ;  so  that  our  very  shoes  will  want  deci- 
phering, and  the  Coptic  language  must  soon  make  part  ot 
the  education  of  our  Birmingham  buckle-makers.  Alpha- 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        233 

betical  buckles  are  become  common ;  insomuch  that,  in 
teaching  ourselves  to  talk  with  our  fingers,  we  may  begin 
with  learning  to  spell  with  our  toes.  Our  wigs  are  made 
upon  principles,  which  used  to  be  made  upon  blocks.  Our 
chimneys  are  cured  of  smoking  by  professors;  and  a 
dancing-master  engages  to  teach  you  the  nine  Orders  of 
the  Graces,  and  if  you  take  forty  lessons,  will  throw  you 
in  an  eleemosynary  hornpipe.  Our  servants  are  begin- 
ning, as  my  correspondent  tells  me,  to  read  behind  our 
carriages;  and  the  Bond  street  lounger,  with  his  breeches 
cut  by  a  problem,  has  as  much  of  the  language  at  least 
of  learning,  as  any  servitor  in  black  logics  at  Oxford.' 

"There  is  much  truth  in  these  quaint  observations," 
continued  the  Square,  "  and  the  principle  was  unfortu- 
nately extended  to  Freemasonry,  as  will  be  apparent 
before  my  Revelations  are  concluded  ;  for  a  case  in  point 
occurred  during  the  presidency  of  our  new  R.  W.  M., 
Bro.  Stephen  Jones,  the  friend,  pupil,  and  admirer  of 
Bro.  Preston,  who  had  been  recently  restored  to  the 
Craft  with  all  his  blooming  honours  thick  upon  him. 

"  Bro.  Jones  was  an  active  man,  and  had  acquired, 
under  the  persevering  instructions  of  this  sincere  friend, 
a  competent  knowledge,  not  merely  of  the  ceremonies 
and  lectures,  but  of  the  real  object  and  design  of  the 
Order,  which  imparted  a  brilliancy  to  his  other  qualifica- 
tions for  judicious  government ;  and  he  became  one  of 
our  numerous  good  Masters,  on  whose  breast  I  was  proud 
to  be  seen  glittering,  like  the  morning  dew  on  a  rose- 
leaf  in  the  merry  month  of  June. 

"At  his  inauguration,"  continued  the  Square,  "  he  gave 
evidence  of  such  a  correct  knowledge  of  his  duty  as  gave 
ample  promise  of  a  career  of  future  usefulness ;  for  he 
was  but  a  young  man,  and  though  his  Wardenship  had 
passed  over  irreproachably,  it  was  quite  uncertain  how 
he  would  execute  the  complex  duties  of  the  Chair.  Bad 
officers  make  bad  members.  There  never  was  an  ineffi- 
cient Lodge,  but  it  owed  its  imperfection  to  the  blunders 
or  carelessness  of  its  officers.  If  the  Society  be  feeble, 
depend  upon  it  the  officers  are  naught.  If  the  Master  be 
mild  and  quiet  in  his  manners,  the  -Lodge  will,  most 
likely,  be  well  governed  and  prosperous. 

"  After  the  installation  of  Bro.  Jones,  the  confidence 
of  the  Brethren  was  confirmed  by  a  most  eloquent  inau- 


234  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

Duration  speech  ;  in  the  course  of  which  he  made  a  pro- 
position which  he  admitted  might  be  considered  Utopian ; 
i.  e.  to  draw  together,  by  the  pure  principles  of  Masonry, 
a  select  number  of  Brethren  from  the  Fraternity  at  large, 
who,  properly  impressed  by  the  tenets  of  the  profession, 
shall  have  courage  to  carry  them  into  practice,  and  make 
them  the  unerring  guide  of  their  conduct  through  life. 

"'Our  Society,  my  Brethren,'  he  added,  *  can  only 
acquire  its  proper  rank  in  the  scale  of  human  institutions, 
by  a  general  and  faithful  observance  of  its  own  precepts ; 
and  if  this  cannot  be  effected  in  its  corporate  capacity-, 
very  much  may  be  expected  from  the  junction  of  well- 
disposed  individuals,  who  shall  be  inclined  by  the  con- 
stant tenour  of  their  lives  to  recommend  the  profession, 
and  to  prove  that  Freemasonry  is  only  another  term  for 
inflexible  virtue.' 

"  Although  the  R.  W.  M.  was  desirous  of  inducing  all 
the  Members  of  the  Lodge  to  be  strictly  zealous  in  the 
discharge  of  their  respective  duties,"  said  the  Square, 
"  yet  he  never  failed  to  caution  them  in  friendly  terms 
against  the  indulgence  of  an  enthusiastic  spirit,  because, 
as  he  told  them,  they  had  other  important  demands  on 
eheir  time  and  talents,  besides  those  which  are  imposed 
by  Masonry,  that  ought  not  to  be  neglected.  He  would 
say  to  the  younger  and  more  ardent  Brethren,  '  that  when 
a  man  becomes  a  Mason,  he  sees,  if  he  be  a  sensual  man, 
the  pleasures  of  the  table  to  indulge  his  appetite,  and  the 
splendour  of  decoration  to  gratify  his  sight;  if,  on  the 
other  hand,  he  be  a  thinking  man,  he  enters  an  ample 
field  for  contemplation ;  he  receives  the  lessons  of  mora- 
lity and  of  virtue,  and  is  taught,  by  an  easy  and  pleasant 
process,  to  diffuse  its  blessings  among  mankind ;  if  he  be 
a  good  man,  he  will  illustrate  the  precept  by  his  own 
conduct  in  life.  But  mark!  to  do  this,  it  is  not  neces- 
sary that  he  should  enroll  his  name  among  the  members 
of  I  know  not  how  many  Lodges  and  Chapters,  to  shine 
a  Z.  in  one,  a  R.  W.  M.,  a  P.  M.,  a  S.  W.,  a  J.  W.,  a  T., 
and  Heaven  knows  what,  in  others.  Distinction,  to  be 
sure,  is  flattering;  but  distinctions  of  this  nature  can  only 
have  charms  for  weak  minds. 

"'  Is  your  knowledge  increased,'  Bro.  Jones  contin- 
ued, 'or  your  power  of  doing  good  to  your  fellow-crea- 
tures enlarged,  in  a  just  ratio  with  the  number  of  offices 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        235 

you  fill,  or  the  number  of  societies  to  which  you  belong? 
Are  not  the  sage  tenets  and  maxims  transmitted  to  us 
from  our  ancestors  by  oral  tradition  all  comprehended  in 
one  regular  series  of  doctrines,  made  memorable  by  the 
ancient  simplicity  of  their  style,  universally  prevalent, 
and  adapted  alike  to  the  minds  of  all  nations  and  sects  ? 
What  is  there  new,  that  is  not  innovative?  What 
fanciful,  that  is  not  corrupt? 

"'If,  then,  one  general  system  comprehend  all  that  is 
valuable,  all  £hat  is  genuine,  and  that  system  be  to  be 
attained,  in  its  primitive  purity  and  perfection  in  one 
Lodge,  whence  resulfs  the  need  of  attending  others  ?' 

"  During  this  period,"  the  Square  observed,  "  the 
literature  of  Masonry  assumed  a  lofty  position,  which 
empiricism  found  it  difficult  to  reach.  Some  of  the 
Lodges  were  fitted  up  with  a  philosophical  apparatus, 
and  scientific  lectures  were  delivered,  to  the  great  edifi- 
cation of  the  Members.  In  others,  the  Brethren  held 
special  meetings  for  mutual  improvement,  which  were 
termed  Masonic  Councils,  and  were  usually  holden  on  a 
Sunday  evening.  I  disapproved  of  the  practice,  I  assure 
you,  but  was  compelled  to  be  a  consenting  party.  This 
system,  I  am  inclined  to  think,  was  carried  out  in  the 
provinces  with  greater  spirit  than  in  the  metropolitan 
Lodges,  although  it  is  true  that  occasionally  the  discus- 
sions were  deformed  with  untenable  hypotheses,  and 
speculative  facts  unsupported  by  authority,  and  altogether 
unreasonable  and  absurd. 

"  However,  we  were  not  without  our  literary  reunions," 
the  Squre  playfully  continued,  and  he  solaced  himself 
with  a  scientific  twirl  on  his  dexter  limb,  to  display  his 
satisfaction;  "one  of  which  occurred  in  1799,  the  chair 
being  occupied  by  Bro.  Hannan,  the  author  and  actuary 
of  the  Masonic  Benefit  Society,  which  was  matured  and 
brought  to  perfection  by  his  own  individual  exertions. 
And  his  zeal  in  its  behalf  cqased  only  with  his  life.  He 
watched  its  progress  carefully,  and  strained  every  nerve 
to  make  it  instrumental  in  producing  the  welfare  and 
happiness  of  the  Fraternity.  Bro.  Preston  terms  its 
establishment  an  event  of  real  importance,  and  so  it  was; 
for  what  can  be  more  important  than  the  institution  of  a 
society  for  the  relief  of  sick,  aged,  and  imprisoned 


236  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

Brethren,  and  for  the  protection  of  their  widows  and 
orphan  children?  H.  R.  H.  the  Prince  of  Wales,  G.  M., 
became  its  patron ;  and  the  Earl  of  Moira,  arid  the  other 
acting  officers  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  its  President  and 
Vice-Presidents,  and  it  was  strongly  recommended  to  the' 
notice  of  the  Provincial  Grand  Masters.  Several  thou- 
sand names  were  speedily  enrolled ;  and  the  contributions 
amounted  to  a  very  considerable  sum  of  money. 

" But  this  is  a  digression,"  said  the  Square;  "  we  were 
speaking  (we  indeed !)  of  literary  re-union?  as  applied  to 
Masonry,  one  of  which  was  holden  under  the  presidency 
of  Bro.  Hannan.  And  there  were  present,  Brothers 
Preston,  Jones,  Blackman,  Meyrick,  Shadbolt,  Inwood, 
Henry  Bell,  Daniell,  Deans,  Lambert,  and  many  other 
eminent  Brethren. 

"  The  conversation  was  opened  by  a  remark  of  the 
President,  that  he  had  been  reading  for  the  first  time, 
although  the  book  had  been  published  more  than  ten 
years,  *A  Recommendation  ot  Brotherly  Love  on  the 
Principles  of  Christianity,'  by  Bro.  the  Rev.  James 
Wright,  of  Maybole  ;l  in  which,  amongst  many  other 
sensible  remarks,  he  judiciously  observes  that  the  office- 
bearers in  every  Lodge  ought  to  take  good  heed  to  the 
characters  of  those  whom  they  admit  into  the  Society ; 
because  an  Accepted  Mason  is  held  by  all  foreigners,  as 
well  as  by  us,  to  be  a  term  which  implies  a  man  of 
honour  and  virtue ;  one  who  has  a  right  to  be  admitted 
into  the  company  of  gentlemen  of  every  description,  and 
of  the  highest  rank.  By  granting  a  man  the  privilege  of 
being  an  Accepted  Mason,  ye  do  virtually  give  him  a 
letter  of  recommendation  to  the  acquaintance,  and  friend- 
ship, and  confidence  of  a  certain  number  of  the  most 
respectable  characters  that  are  to  be  found  in  every  part 
of  the  world. 

"  'Bro.  Wright  is  perfectly  correct  in  his  recommenda- 
tion,' said  Bro.  Bell ;.  '  for  the  absence  of  such  caution 
may,  and  often  does,  introduce  confusion  into  a  Lodge, 
which  it  is  difficult  to  allay.  But  Bro.  Wright  bears  the 

1  "A  Kecommendation  of  Brotherly  Love  upon  the  Principles  of 
Christianity;  to  which  is  subjoined  an  Inquiry  into  the  True  Design 
of  the  Institution  of  Masonry."    In  Four  Books.     London,  Murray 
1780. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        237 

character  of  an  experienced  Mason,  and  his  example  has 
produced  many  genial  and  beneficial  effects  in  the  locality 
which  enjoys  the  advantage  of  his  presence.' 

"  The  Chairman  then  commended  Bro.  Sketchley,  of 
Birmingham,  for  having  done  good  service  to  Masonry 
by  the  publication  of  a  useful  little  manual,2  which 
contains  some  valuable  little  papers,  particularly  a  curious 
lecture  on  Moral  Geometry,3  which  contains  a  beautiful 
view  of  the  ancient  principles  of  the  Art;  and  was 
written,  as  was  thought,  by  Bro.  Dunckerley ;  and  also  a 
Funeral  Oration,  which  has  some  good  points,  and  is 
worthy  of  a  perusal.4 

"  *I  have  been  much  pleased,'  said  Bro.  Jones,  'with 
two  sermons,  by  my  friend  Turner,  of  Woolwich,5  in 
which  are  many  beautiful  passages.  What  can  be  finer 
than  this  description  of  brotherly  love  ? — '  Verbal  love  is 
but  painted  fire;  therefore,  let  His  example,  who  went 
about  doing  good,  be  the  pillar  so  elegantly  adorned  with 
lily-work,  kindly  directing  and  inflaming  your  humanity 
towards  the  Brethren.  Meet  the  very  lowest  of  them  on 
the  level  of  condescension,  nor  venture  to  despise  the 
man  for  whom  a  Saviour  died;  that  so  you  may  be  able 
to  hold  up  your  heads  when  justice  is  laid  to  the  line, 
and  righteousness  to  the  plummet.  Let  your  pure  benevo- 
lence spread  every  way,  like  the  more  than  gem-studded 
arch  of  heaven,  expanding  even 'over  your  enemies  when 
in  distress,  that  you  may  prove  yourselves  to  be  the 
children  of  the  Most  High,  who  is  benign  to  the  unthank- 
ful, and  to  the  evil.  Philanthropy  is  not  confined  to 
name  or  sect,  to  climate  or  language.  Like  the  power  of 
attraction,  which  reaches  from  the  largest  to  the  smallest 
bodies  in  the  universe,  it  unites  men  from  the  throne  to 
the  cottage.'  ' 

"  Bro.  Blackman  added  his  testimony  to  the  superior 
excellence  of  Bro.  Turner's  preaching.  But  the  crown 


5  "The  Freemason's  Repository,  containing  a  Selection  of  valuable 
Discourses,  Charges,  Aphorisms,  and  Letters."  Birmingham,  Sketch- 
ley,  1786. 

3  Printed  in  the  "  Golden  Remains,"  vol.  i.,  p.  157. 

4  "An  Oration  on  the  Death  of  James  Rollason,"  delivered  by  a 
Brother  at  the  St.  Paul's  Lodge,  Birmingham,  1789. 

6  "  Two  Discourses  delivered  at  Woolwich."     By  the  Rev.  Daniel 
Turner.     1788. 


238         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

of  his  character  is,  that  he  is  a  good  man  as  well  as  a 
worthy  Mason — indeed,  the  one  can  scarcely  exist  with 
out  the  other — and  practises  what  he  preaches. 

"  Bro.  Deans  begged  to  call  the  attention  of  the  Breth 
ren  to  an  interesting  discussion  in  print  between  the 
Rev.  H.  E.  Holder  and  Dr.  Maryat,  on  the  Philosophy  01 
Masons,6  in  which  it  is  satisfactorily  proved  that  the 
masonic  philosophy  includes  the  practical  doctrines  Oi 
Christianity;  the  Cardinal  and  Theological  Virtues;  a 
firm  belief  in  the  atonement  of  Christ,  leading  to  a 
resurrection  from  the  dead,  and  eternal  happiness  in  a 
future  state. 

"'In  the  absence  of  which  doctrines,' Bro.  Inwood 
observed,  '  no  true  Christian  would  be  found  in  the  ranks 
of  Masonry;  which,  though  it  be  confessedly  an  institu- 
tion professing  the  principles  of  pure  morality,  yet, 
without  some  more  recondite  reference,  it  would  be  liko 
the  dry  bones  mentioned  by  Ezekiel  the  Prophet;  and  it 
might,  with  equal  propriety,  be  asked — Can  these  bones 
live?  And  the  answer  would  be,  They  cannot  live  unless 
vitality  be  infused  into  them  by  the  Great  Architect  of 
the  Universe.' 

"  '  Turn  we  now  to  another  part  of  the  kingdom,'  said 
Bro.  Lambert,  '  and  we  shall  find  Dr.  Jieans  enlightening 
the  Brethren  of  Southampton  by  an  Oration  at  the  Audit 
House,7  in  which  the  instruments  of  architecture,  or 
moral  Jewels  of  Masonry,  are  ably  illustrated.  Freema- 
sonry, he  says,  deals  in  hieroglyphics,  symbols,  allegories ; 
and  to  be  qualified  to  reveal  their  meaning,  a  man  must 
know  more  than  a  mere  nominal  Mason :  the  full  inter- 
pretation of  them,  like  that  of  the  mysteries  of  old,  is  in 
select  hands — has  been  committed  only  to  those  of  tried 

6  "The  Philosophy  of  Masons,  in  several  Epistles  from  Egypt  to 
a  Nobleman."     By  Thomas  Maryat,  M.  D.,  of  Bristol.     London, 
Ridgway,  1790.     A  Brief,  but  it  is  presumed  a  Sufficient  Answer  to 
the   Philosophy  of  Masons."     By  the  Rev.  H.  E.  Holder.      Bristol, 
Pine,  1791.     "A  Letter  to  the  Rev.  H.  E.  Holder,  on  his  Brief  and 
Sufficient  Answer."     By  a  Layman.     Bristol,  Rough,  1791.     "An 
Answer  to  the  Layman's  Letter."     By  H.  E.  Holder.     Bristol,  Pine, 
1791. 

7  "  An  Oration  pronounced  at  the  Audit  House  in  Southampton,  on 
the  occasion  of  laying  the  chief  corner-stone  of  a  building  consecra 
ted  to  the  worship  of  God."  By  Bro.  Thomas  Jieans,  M.  D.    South 
ampton,  1792. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        239 

fidelity,  who  conceal  it  with  suitable  care :  others,  if  not 
deficient  in  intellect,  yet  wanting  industry  or  inclination 
to  explore  the  penetralia  of  the  Temple,  are  not  qualified, 
if  willing,  to  betray  it.  Hence  the  secresy  which  has  so 
long  distinguished  the  Fraternity.  This  secresy,  how- 
ever, has  been  urged  against  our  Institution  as  a  crime , 
but  the  wise  know  that  secresy,  properly  maintained,  is 
one  of  the  best  securities  of  social  happiness:  there  is 
more  private  misery  arising  from  an  unqualified  commu- 
nication of  words  and  actions,  than  from  the  anger  of  the 
aeavens.' 

"  '  The  Oration  or  Lecture  in  defence  of  Masonry,' 
*&id  Bro.  Meyrick,  'pronounced  at  Liverpool  by  Bro. 
.ouConochie,8  successfully  combats  the  wild  assertions 
01  Professor  Kobison,  who  accuses  the  Fraternity  of  a 
deef>fy-concocted  plot  to  overturn  all  the  religions  and 
governments  in  the  world.  He  contends,  on  the  con- 
trary, that  it  contains  nothing  but  a  lovely  display  of 
benevulence  to  the  distressed  of  every  clime,  without 
the  distinction  of  birth,  colour,  or  religion.  Independent 
of  eveiv  other  consideration,  he  says,  Masonry  holds 
>ut  twu  weighty  arguments  in  its  favour; — a  universal 
language,  understood  by  the  Fraternity  in  every  quarter 
of  the  giube;  and  a  universal  fund,  for  the  relief  of 
the  distie^sed,  whatever  may  be  their  religion,  or 
country,  01  i/omplexion.  Our  language  is  understood  by 
every  coumiy,  pretending  to  the  slightest  degree  of  culti- 
vation, unde*  heaven.  The  Mason  needs  but  to  speak 
it,  and  he  is  lied,  and  clothed,  and  comforted  by  men 
who  never  saw  his  face  before.' 

"  '  In  a  rev;ow  of  the  literary  productions  of  our 
country  Brethren,'  Bro.  Preston  observed,  '  we  must  not 
overlook  the  Hev.  James  Watson,  P.  M.,  of  St.  John's 
Lodge,  Lancaster,  who  has  published  two  excellent 
Addresses  on  Taking  and  Resigning  the  Chair.9  They 
entitle  him  to  our  highest  consideration,  although  I  can 

8  "  A  short  Defence  of  British  Freemasonry ;  being  the  substance 
of  a  Lecture  delivered  to  Lodges  No.  20,  25,  and  299,  Liverpool.' 
By  Bro.  James  McConochie. 

9  "An  Address  to  the  Brethren  of  St.  John's  Lodge,  Lancaster." 
By  the  Rev.  James  "Watson,  on  his  Installation  into  the  Chair  of  the 
Lodge,  Dec.  27, 1794.     "An  Address  to  the  same  Brethren,  on  quit- 
ting the  Chair,"  Dec.  28,  1795. 

11* 


240        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

scarcely  subscribe  to  his  distribution  of  the  three  De- 
grees. He  says,  the  three  Degrees  into  which  Masonry 
is  divided,  seem  to  have  an  obvious  and  apt  coincidence 
with  the  three  progressive  states  of  mankind,  from  the 
creation  to  the  end  of  time.  The  first  is  emblematic  of 
man's  state  of  nature,  from  his  first  disobedience  to  the 
time  of  God's  covenant  with  Abraham,  and  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  Jewish  Economy.  The  second,  from 
that  period  to  the  era  of  the  last,  full,  and  perfect  Reve- 
lation from  Heaven  to  mankind,  made  by  our  Great 
Redeemer.  The  third,  comprehending  the  glorious  in- 
terval of  the  Christian  Dispensation,  down  to  the  con- 
summation of  all  things.' 

"  *  I  believe,'  Bro.  Shadbolt  observed, '  that  our  learned 
and  intelligent  Brother  Hutchinson  first  promulgated 
that  opinion,  for  I  am  not  aware  that  it  can  be  traced  to 
any  higher  antiquity.  A  reference  to  the  three  ages  of 
man  would,  I  think,  be  more  orthodox.' 

"  '  I  am  rather  inclined,'  Bro.  Preston  replied,  *  to 
make  the  reference  scientific.  According  to  my  view, 
the  First  Degree  enforces  the  duties  of  morality,  and  im- 
prints on  the  memory  the  noblest  principles  that  can 
adorn  the  human  mind.  The  Second  Degree  extends 
the  plan,  and  comprehends  a  more  diffusive  system  of 
knowledge  by  the  study  of  the  liberal  sciences,  especially 
geometry,  which  is  established  as  the  basis  of  our  Art. 
While,  in  the  Third  Degree,  every  circumstance  that 
respects  government  and  system,  ancient  lore  and  deep 
research,  curious  invention  and  ingenious  discovery,  is 
collected  and  accurately  traced." 

"  '  Who  is  to  decide  when  doctors  disagree  ?'  Bro. 
Daniell  asked,  laughingly. 

"  *  My  dear  sir,'  Bro.  Preston  replied,  *  this  is  an  open 
question,  on  which  every  Brother  is  entitled  to  form  his 
own  opinion.' 

"  '  I  am  afraid  we  are  slightly  wandering  from  our  sub- 
ject,' Bro.  Hannan  interposed,  '  and  we  must  not  omit 
to  do  justice  to  the  production  of  a  Rev.  and  esteemed 
Brother,  although  he  be  present,  when  masonic  literature 
is  the  theme.  I  allude  to  Bro.  Inwood's  volume  of  sermons, 
just  published,10  which  would  be  creditable  to  any  body 

10  "  Sermous ;  in  which  are  explained  and  enforced  the  Religious, 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        241 

of  men  in  the  kingdom,  not  excepting  the  profession  to 
which  he  himself  belongs,  teeming,  as  it  does,  with  the 
brightest  emanations  of  learning  and  talent.  If  the 
enunciation  of  the  purest  principles  of  Masonry  and 
Christianity,  expressed  in  chaste  and  beautiful  language, 
and  enforced  by  unadorned  eloquence,  be  entitled  to  com- 
mendation, then  Bro.  In  wood's  Masonic  Sermons  will  re- 
ceive the  universal  welcome  of  the  Craft.' 

"  '  I  beg  to  be  permitted  to  add  my  testimony,'  said 
Bro.  Preston,  *  to  the  exceeding  beauty  and  excellence  of 
these  Sermons,  which  dignify  and  adorn  the  literature  of 
Masonry.' 

"  '  And  I,'  said  Bro.  Jones.  A  mark  of  approbation 
which  was  echoed  by  every  person  present. 

"  *  Dear  Brethren,'  said  Bro.  Inwood,  *  your  eulogium 
is  greater  than  my  simple  compositions  merit.  I  have 
endeavoured  to  preserve  unimpaired  what  I  conceive  to 
be  the  general  and  particular  bearings  of  the  Order,  and 
it  is  not  my  fault  if  I  have  been  unsuccessful.  But  the 
encomiums  which  you  have  thought  proper  to  bestow  in 
the  presence  of  such  a  company  of  distinguished  Brethren, 
convince  me  that  I  have  not  had  the  misfortune  to  fail. 
I  am  proud  of  your  favourable  opinion,  and  the  value  of 
the  discourses  will  be  enhanced  in  my  own  estimation, 
after  having  been  thus  honoured  with  your  approbation.' 

"A  few  evenings  after  this  literary  reunion,"  continued 
the  Square,  "  the  subject  of  begging  Masons,  and  the 
impositions  practised  on  the  liberality  of  the  Craft  by 
mendicants  travelling  with  false  certificates,  was  intro- 
duced by  Bro.  Arthur  Tegart,  during  the  hour  of  refresh- 
ment ;  and  the  Treasurer  of  the  Lodge  communicated 
some  interesting  facts  which  had  occurred  to  him  in  the 
discharge  of  his  official  duties  since  the  previous  Lodge. 

"  But  to  make  the  subject  intelligible, "said  the  Square, 
"  you  must  understand,  that  at  this  period  begging  Ma- 
sons, and  pretended  Masons,  abounded  in  this  metropolis ; 
and  by  their  importunity  gave  the  Treasurers  a  great  deal 

Moral,  and  Political  Virtues  of  Freemasonry.  Preached,  upon 
several  occasions,  before  the  Provincial  Grand  Officers,  and  Bother 
Brethren  in  the  counties  of  Kent,  Essex,  &c."  By  the  Rev.  Jethro 
Inwood,  P.  G.  Chaplain  for  the  county  of  Kent.  London,  Crosby 
and  Letterman,  1799.  Published  in  the  "Golden  Remains,"  vol.  iv. 
Spencer,  1849. 


242        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

of  trouble.  The  Athol  Lodges  initiated  unworthy  persons 
for  a  trifling  fee,  and  having  furnished  them  with  certi- 
ficates, they  converted  their  Masonry  into  a  regular  trade. 
If  one  of  these  men  died  in  a  lodging-house,  there  was 
sure  to  be  a  fierce  struggle  among  the  survivors  for  his 
diploma.  Others  gambled  away  their  certificates  at  all- 
fours  or  dice ;  and  hence  numbers  of  common  beggars, 
who  had  never  seen  a  Lodge,  were  spread  over  the  coun- 
try, soliciting  charity  on  the  strength  of  these  documents. 
The  Treasurers  and  Masters  of  Lodges  were  obliged, 
therefore,  to  exercise  the  utmost  caution  in  their  exam- 
inations, lest  these  unprincipled  scamps  should  glean  any 
hint  which  might  be  usefully  employed  in  other  places  to 
favour  their  imposture. 

"  This  being  premised,  I  proceed  in  my  Revelations. 
The  Treasurer  Loquitur: — 

"  'About  a  fortnight  ago,'  he  said,  *I  was  applied  to 
by  a  Brother  in  deep  distress,  who  described  himself  as  a 
stonemason  out  of  work.  He  was  a"  man  of  medium 
height,  neither  tall  nor  short,  with  light  hair,  and  a  beard 
of  a  month's  growth.  His  dress  was  a  light-coloured 
fustian  jacket,  with  horn  buttons,  a  long  leather  apron, 
with  the  skirts  tucked  under  his  belt  to  allow  free  motion 
for  his  legs  in  walking;  and  on  his  head  a  dirty  white 
hat,  with  a  broad  brim  and  a  low  crown.  Altogether,  his 
appearance  was  that  of  a  common  working  mason.  He 
had  a  mallet  in  one  hand,  and  a  piece  of  rough  stone  in 
the  other,  and  humbly  begged  relief. 

"  *  In  the  exercise  of  my  discretionary  power  of  reliev- 
ing any  indigent  Brother  to  the  amount  of  one  shilling, 
without  reference  to  the  R.  W.  M.;  I  proceeded  to  ascer- 
tain whether  the  applicant  were  really  a  Mason,  for  I  had 
some  doubts  about  his  certificate.  I  was,  however,  soon 
satisfied  on  that  point,  for  he  met  all  my  inquiries  very 
adroitly. 

"  '  *  Your  name  is ?'  I  said. 

" ' '  John  Wilkins,'  he  replied  ;  *  or  Lewis,  if  you  like 
it  better.  But  here,  some  would  probably  answer  by 
using  the  word  Caution.' 

"  '  *  Then  I  am  to  understand  that  you  are  a  Mason  T 
I  rejoined. 

"  ' '  I  am  so  taken  and  accepted,'  was  his  prompt  reply. 

"  M  Where  were  you  made  a  Mason  ?'  I  asked. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        243 

"  *  His  answer  was  perfectly  orthodox,  although  it  was 
accompanied  by  a  sardonic  smile,  which  indicated,  if  it 
did  not  absolutely  express,  knavery. 

"  ' '  What  is  that  in  your  left  hand  ?' 

"  '  *  If  I  answer  as  a  Free-mason,'  he  replied,  *  it  is  a 
rough  ashlar  or  broached  thurnel ;  but  as  a  working 
mason  I  should  say  it  is  a  boulder-stone.' 

"  '  *  So  far,  so  well,'  I  thought;  and  said  aloud — '  Since 
you  appear  so  confident,  can  you  tell  me  what  that  stone 
smells  of?' 

"  '  The  rogue  put  it  to  his  nose  scientifically,  and,  with 
another  smile,  gave  me  a  direct  and  proper  answer. 

"  '  'What  recommendation  do  you  bring?'  was  my 
next  inquiry. 

"  'The  fellow  knew  his  points,  however  he  might  have 
become  acquainted  with  them,  and  told  me  without  the 
slightest  hesitation.  And,  being  satisfied  that  he  was  a 
Mason,  I  gave  him  the  shilling,  and  he  thanked  me,  and 
went  about  Iris  business. 

u  '  A  few  days  afterwards,  a  poor  shoemaker  applied 
to  me  for  assistance,  with  hammer  in  hand,  apron  before 
him,  buttoned  up  to  his  chin,  and  an  awl  stuck  in  his 
girdle,  which  was  fastened  with  a  wax  end.  His  hair 
was  black,  his  face  dirty,  his  hat  divested  of  its  brim,  and 
fitting  close  to  his  head ;  ribbed  worsted  stockings,  and 
shoes  very  much  the  worse  for  wear.  Divested  of  his 
apron,  he  might  have  passed  for  a  respectable  chimney- 
sweep, or  a  worn-out  coal  porter.  Altogether  he  was  a 
disgusting  object,  and  redolent  of  the  combined  odour  of 
stale  tobacco  and  shoemaker's  wax.  He  said  he  was  on 
tramp,  and  could  not  fall  into  work.  He  was  averse  to 
begging,  as  he  had  not  been  used  to  it,  and  the  necessity 
was  galling  to  his  feelings.  But  being  hard  up,  he  was 
obliged  to  have  recourse  to  the  liberality  of  his  Brother 
Masons  for  assistance. 

"  'I  asked  his  name,  and  he  answered  the  question  by 
inquiring  whether  I  alluded  to  his  paternal  or  his  masonic 
appellation. 

"  '  'Your  Christian  and  surname,  sir?'  I  replied,  sternly, 
for  I  was  piqued  at  the  fellow's  pertinacity. 

"  '  <  James  Patchett.' 

"  *  '  And  your  place  of  abode?' 

"  «  v  Faith,'  said  he,  'I  can  scarcely  tell  you  that;  for 


244  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

my  whereabouts  has  been  sufficiently  diversified  of  late, 
but  I  was  born  and  brought  up  at  Hinckley,  in  Leicester- 
shire.' 

"  '  '  You  say  you  are  a  Mason,'  I  continued ;  *  will  you 
do  me  the  favour  to  describe  the  mode  of  your  prepara- 
tion ?' 

"  *  *  Describe  to  you,  sir!'  he  said,  with  some  humour. 
*  Come,  that  is  a  prime  joke.  As  if  you  did  not  know  all 
about  it !  If  you  must  have  it,  it  was  thus ;'  and  he 
satisfied  the  inquiry  correctly.  *  Certes,'  he  added,  '  I 
remember  my  initiation  as  well  as  if  it  had  occurred  only 
yesterday.' 

"  '  I  then  tried  him  with  a  few  of  Grand  Master  Sayer's 
quaint  examination  questions,  and  found  him  aufait  even 
there. 

"  '  *  Will  you  give  or  take  ?' 

"  '  '  Both,  or  which  you  please.' 

"  '  « Are  you  rich  or  poor?' 

"  '  *  Neither.' 

"  «  «  Change  me  that  ?' 

"  '  *  With  pleasure.' 

"  *  The  fellow  knew  his  catechism,  and  I  failed  to  puz- 
zle him. 

"  *  Seeing  in  his  hand  a  hammer,'  the  Treasurer  con- 
tinued, *  I  asked  him  whether  it  had  any  moral  or  masonic 
reference. 

"  '  '  Call  it  a  mallet,  if  you  please,'  he  answered  with 
a  knowing  smile.  4  Crispin's  hammer  is  the  Mason'a 
gavel,  though  one  is  made  of  wood,  and  the  other  of  iron  ; 
but  iron  tools '  and  he  gave  me  an  orthodox  illus- 
tration of  the  implement. 

"  *  I  then  observed,  for  the  purpose  of  hearing  his  re- 
ply,— '  I  see  you  wear  an  apron  out  of  the  Lodge  as  well 
as  in  it." 

"  '  '  I  belong  to  the  Gentle  Craft,'  he  replied,  '  which 
is  the  designation  of  my  trade  as  a  cobbler,  as  well  as  of 
my  profession  as  a  Mason.  The  apron,  sir,  is  common  to 
both.  1  cannot,  indeed,  say  much  in  favour  of  the  white- 
ness or  purity  of  my  present  badge,  but,  for  all  that,  I 
may  be  as  innocent  as  a  new  born  babe,'  laying  a  peculiar 
emphasis  on  the  word  may. 

"  '  '  You  carry  your  awl  about  with  you,  I  observe.' 
"  *  l  My  o/Z,  sir,'  he  replied.,  'is  under  my  hat,  and  a 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         245 

shocking  bad  hat  it  is  !  and  my  end  will  soon  overtake  me, 
if  not  prevented  by  the  exercise  of  your  kindness  and 
commiseration.' 

"  *  The  fellow's  ready  wit  amused  me,  and  I  freely 
tendered  him  the  usual  amount  of  relief,  which  he  pock- 
eted, and  took  his  leave. 

"  *  The  next  day  I  had  another  and  very  different  appli 
cant.  He  was  a  man  of  rather  fashionable  appearance, 
well  dressed,  and  his  brown  glossy  hair  neatly  arranged ; 
a  round  hat,  nearly  new,  tight  pantaloons,  with  hessian 
bootfc  well  polished  and  tasselled,  and  in  his  hand  a  dragon 
cane.  He  introduced  himself  by  the  aristocratic  name 
of  Walter  Beauchamp,  and  apologised  profusely  for 
troubling  me  ;  but,  he  added,  'Necessitous  non  habet  legem; 
and  here  I  am — a  free  and  accepted  Mason  in  deep  dis- 
tress.' 

'*  '  I  was  not  at  leisure  to  dally  with  this  gentleman, 
and,  therefore,  I  determined,  after  having  ascertained  that 
he  was  really  a  Mason,  to  relieve  and  dismiss  him.  I 
asked  him  successively — What  is  the  first  point  in  Mason- 
ry ? — What  is  the  chief  point — the  original  point — the 
principal  point — the  point  within  a  circle  ?'  He  answered 
these  questions  without  the  slightest  hesitation  or  mis- 
take ;  and  I  then  said  carelessly,  to  catch  him  tripping,  if 
possible — *  By  the  bye,  supposing  a  Brother  to  be  lost, 
where  might  we  hope  to  find  him?' 

"  *  He  said  nothing,  but  with  his  cane  traced  a  square 
and  compass  on  the  office  floor.  I  then  asked  him  whether 
he  had  seen  a  Master  Mason  to-day  ? 

"  '  He  laughed,  and  answered  curtly  by  another  ques- 
tion— « Do  I  see  one  now  ?' 

."  *  I  was  perfectly  satisfied,  and  while  I  took  out  my 
purse,  I  inquired  what  was  his  trade  or  profession. 

"  '  'A  short  time  ago,'  he  said,  '  I  was  the  conductor 
of  a  flourishing  academy  in  the  west  of  England,  and  my 
circumstances  were  promising.  I  filled  the  chair  of  the 
Rural  Philanthropic  Lodge,  at  Huntspill,  with  credit  and. 
success,  though  I  say  it  myself,  who  ought  not  to  do  so, 
because  the  poet  tells  us — On  their  own  merits  modest 
men  are  dumb.  You  have  heard  the  anecdote  of  a  school- 
master, who,  being  sea-sick  when  crossing  the  Bristol 
Channel,  and  seeing  the  waves  run  mountain  high,  hic- 
cupped over  the  side  of  the  vessel — '  It's  all  very  well  to 


246        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

say  '  Britannia  rules  the  waves,'  but,  for  my  part,  I  wish 
she  would  rule  them  straight.'  You  have  heard  this? 
Very  well.  I  am  the  man,  sir.  True,  upon  my  honour. 
But  quid  rides?  If  I  did  not  sound  my  own  trumpet, 
there  is  no  one  here  to  lend  me  his  breath,  and,  therefore, 
you  must  excuse  my  blushes.  Being  foolishly  kind- 
hearted,'  he  rattled  on,  'I  was  persuaded  to  become 
security  for  a  Brother  Mason,  hinc  ilia  lachrym^  who  was 
a  Mason  in  word  but  not  in  deed,  for  he  vanished  in  some 
mysterious  manner  when  the  bills  Became  due,  nmi  est 
inventus,  and  left  me  to  bear  the  responsibility  at  my  %wn 
discretion.  As  I  was  not  in  circumstances  to  meet  the 
payment,  I  had  no  alternative  but  to  copy  his  example — 
d'ye  take  ?  In  a  word,  I  absconded  without  beat  of  drum, 
leaving  birchen  rods,  dunces'  caps,  and  a  whole  troop  of 
little  boys  and  girls  to  satisfy  my  imperious  creditor. 
Being  unmarried,  I  occupied  furnished  lodgings,  and  con- 
sequently had  no  available  assets  to  leave  behind.  Rather 
hard  upon  me,  was  it  not,'  sir?  But  jacta  est  alea,  and  I 
must  bide  the  result.' 

"  «  Thus  he  went  on,'  the  Treasurer  added,  *  and  talked 
so  fluently  and  well,  that  I  became  rather  prepossessed 
in  his  favour.  To  test  his  qualifications,  however,  I  pro- 
duced pen,  ink,  and  paper,  and  desired  him  to  write  the 
word ,  I  mentioned  the  pass-word. 

"  '  'Pardon  me,  sir,'  was  his  modest  reply,  'I  cannot 
conscientiously  do  that.  Do  you  think  poverty  can  ever 
induce  me  to  disregard  my  O.  B.  ?  Fie  on  it !  How  poor 
soever  a  man  may  be,  let  him  be  honest.  Does  not  the 

O.  B.  forbid  us  to he  repeated  the  clause.     But  to 

convince  me  of  his  calligraphic  attainments,  he  wrote 
half  a  dozen  lines  applicable  to  his  own  circumstances,  in 
a  free  and  beautiful  hand,  which  excited  my  admiration. 
I  never  bestowed  a  shilling  with  greater  pleasure,  and 
the  poor  fellow's  agreeable  conversation  drew  an  addi- 
tional half-crown  out  of  my  pocket.  And  I  must  say  I 
never  met  with  a  begging  Mason  who  acquitted  himself 
so  creditably  throughout  an  examination  as  either  of  these 
three  poor  fellows  did. 

"  'About  a  week  after  this  interview,'  the  Treasurei 
continued,  '  I  was  walking  down  the  Strand  with  a  friend 
and  Brother,  who  is  Treasurer  of  the  St.  Alban's  Lodge 
Dover-street,  Piccadilly,  and  the  above  transaction  form- 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        247 

ed  the  subject  of  our  conversation,  so  much  had  I  been 
charmed  with  the  poor  schoolmaster's  address.  My  friend 
observed  that  applications  for  charity  had  been  rather 
numerous  of  late;  and  the  last  person  he  had  relieved 
was  a  poor  carpenter  out  of  work,  who  proved  himself  to 
be  a  clever  and  intelligent  Mason;  *  and,  if  my  eyes  do  not 
deceive  me,  yonder  he  is,  with  his  square  and  rule  under 
his  arm.  Let  us  cross  the  street  and  question  him ;  you 
will  be  pleased  with  his  answers.' 

"  'As  we  were  passing  over  to  the  other  side,  the  fel- 
low appeared  to  eye  us  suspiciously,  as  though  he  wished 
to  avoid  the  meeting.  But  when  he  found  it  impractic- 
able, he  saluted  us  respectfully,  arid  was  moving  on. 
But  my  companion  stopped  him  by  saying, — '  Well,  my 
poor  fellow,  you  have  not  succeeded  in  finding  employ- 
ment?' 

u  4  t  Why,  the  truth  is,'  he  replied,  '  Master  Carpen- 
ters, as  well  as  Master  Masons,  are  rather  shy  of  engaging 
with  a  perfect  stranger,  without  a  written  character  in  his 
pocket;  for  you  know,  sir,  the  old  canon — all  preferment 
imong  Masons  is  grounded  upon  real  worth  and  personal  merit 
mli/;  and  who  could  discover  my  worth  and  personal 
merit  without  a  certificate  from  my  last  employer,  which 
I  unfortunately  neglected  to  procure  ?  And,  perhaps, 
they  are  right ;  for-  there  are  many  impostors  in  this 
Great  Babylon,  as  I  myself  have  good  reason  to  know.' 

"  *  I  could  scarcely  believe  my  ears,'  said  the  Treasur- 
er. '  I  looked  in  his  face,  and  he  smiled.  I  knew  that 
smile,  and  the  peculiar  twinkle  of  his  keen  grey  eye.  It 
was  no  other  than  my  accomplished  schoolmaster ! 

"  '  '  Why,  you  rascal,'  I  began — but  he  interrupted, 
the  explosion  by  saying,  in  his  calm  and  quiet  manner, — 

"  '  'Don't  abuse  me,  sir,  I  beseech  you.  Spare  your 
precious  breath  for  a  better  purpose.  You  cannot  tell 
how  soon  you  may  have  occasion  for  it.  Your  dull  ass, 
as  the  grave-digger  says,  will  riot  mend  his  pace  with 
beating.  As  to  being  a  rascal — if  I  was  ignorant  of  that 
fact,  I  must  be  the  stupidest  ass  breathing,  for  I  am  re- 
minded of  it  twenty  times  a  day.  Everybody  tells  me 
so — and  what  everybody  says,  must  be  true.  I  am,  in- 
deed, something  like  the  man  Snake,  in  Sheridan's  play, 
which  I  saw  the  other  night,  and  most  earnestly  entreat 
you  not  to.  ruin  my  bad  character,  for  it  is  all  I  have  to 


248         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

depend  on.  Shakespeare  informs  his  hearers,  and  his 
readers  too,  that  each  man  in  his  turn  plays  many  parts, 
and  it  is  perfectly  impossible  for  me  to  tell  how  many 
have  fallen  to  my  share.' 

"  '  The  cool  impudence  and  self-possession  which  th& 
fellow  displayed,'  continued  the  Treasurer,  '  amused  me 
exceedingly,  and  I  asked  him  how  he  managed  to  get  a 
living,  as  he  appeared  to  be  disinclined  to  work  ?' 

«  4  *  Why,  sir,'  he  said,  *  the  truth  is,  I  sometimes  live 
luxuriously,  and  sometimes  starve ;  for  mine  is  but  a  pre- 
carious employment  at  the  best.  At  one  time  I  dine  off 
a  noble  haunch  of  venison,  and  wash  it  down  with  claret, 
and  at  another  I  am  obliged  to  do  penance  with  Duke 
Humphrey,  or  amuse  myself  by  taking  an  account  of  the 
number  of  trees  in  the  park,  to  allay  the  cravings  of 
hunger.  And  sometimes,  Si  fortuna  peril)  nullus  amicus 
erie,  I  am  greeted  with  kicks  instead  of  halfpence.' 

"  '  *  Why,  then,  do  you  not  exchange  such  a  degrading 
mode  of  life  for  some  honest  aad  regular  employment  V 
I  inquired.  *  You  appear  to  have  some  talent,  and  by 
the  aid  of  industry  and  application,  you  might  become  a 
useful  member  of  society.' 

"  '  'It  can't  be  done,  sir,'  the  fellow  replied  ;  'it  can't 
be  done.  I  have  already  tried  it  on  without  success.  A 
dull  droning  life  won't  do  for  me.'  And  he  began  to 
sing,  in  a  clear  tenor  voice, — 

*  Of  all  the  trades  in  England, 
A  beggar's  life's  the  best, 
For  whenever  he's  a  weary, 
He  can  lay  him  down  to  rest. 
'And  a  begging  we  will  go ! 

'  I  fear  no  plots  against  me, 

I  live  in  open  cell, 
Then  who  would  be  a  monarch, 
When  beggars  li ve  so  well  ? 

•And  a  begging  we  will  go !' 

"  «  'Jtfo,  gentlemen,  it  can  never  be.  I  live  only  in  an 
atmosphere  of  fun  and  excitement ;  and  even  starving  for 
a  season  is  not  without  its  pleasures.  Sometimes,  in- 
deed, the  joke  becomes  serious ;  and  if  it  were  not  for 
such  kind-hearted  persons  as  yourselves,  i'  faith,  I  am 
afraid  I  should  be  obliged  to  work,  which,  to  say  the 
truth,  would  be  very  distasteful,  and  go  woefully  against 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE         249 

the  grain.  But  long  life  to  the  Freemasons !  They  are 
a  liberal  set  of  men,  and  not  very  discriminating,  and, 
therefore,  I  have  but  little  trouble  with  them.  I  shall 
never  be  reduced  to  the  hard  necessity  of  working,  thank 
goodness,  while  we  have  Lodges  in  every  street,  arid 
open-handed  Treasurers.  They  are  fruitful  milch-cows, 
and  a  bountiful  Goshen  when  the  land  of  Canaan  reduces 
me  to  famine.' 

"  '  'Then  you  are  not  a  schoolmaster,  after  all?'  I 
said. 

"  '  '  Bless  your  heart,  no,'  the  fellow  replied,  with  his 
pleasant  smile.  'A  schoolmaster !  Faugh!  To  be  shut 
up  the  live-long  day  with  a  flock  of  dirty  urchins,  and  no 
escape— it  is  not  to  be  thought  of.  Besides,  I  never 
could  endure  confinement.  I  have  been  twice  in  Bride- 
well, and  once  in  Newgate,  not  for  making  an  illegal 
conveyance  of  property,  mind,  but,  as  the  big  wigs 
technically  term  it,  as  a  rogue  and  a  vagabond — for  beg- 
ging, in  short ;  and  in  my  daily  Litany  I  pray  to  be  de- 
livered from  all  restraint.  A  schoolmaster !  Ha,  ha,  ha  ! 
I  have  had  many  a  laugh  about  that,  and  your  beautiful 
new  half-crown.  It  is  clear  that  you  believed  my  story.' 

"  '  *  I  certainly  did,  my  good  man,'  was  my  reply. 

"  '  'Nay,'  said  he,  'now  you  call  me  good,  when  in 
fact  it  was  not  I,  but  the  acting  that  was  good.' 

"  '  The  fellow's  taunt  stung  me  to  the  quick,  and  I 
asked  sternly,  for  I  felt  piqued  at  his  unblushing  effron- 
tery— -'  What,  then,  in  the  name  of  the  devil,  are  you — a 
daring  thief,  1  warrant  ?' 

"  '  'Not  a  thief,  your  honour,'  he  replied,  with  the  ut- 
most composure.  '  I  have  never  yet  been  reduced  to 
that  dodge.  Craving  your  pardon,  begging  is  the  safest 
employment  of  the  two.  I  can  sleep  with  a  quiet 
conscience  when  I  have  no  sins  under  my  belt  of  greater 
burden  than  a  few  innocent  white  lies.' 

"  ' '  You  have  a  trade,  I  suppose,  if  you  were  compelled 
by  necessity  to  work?  Tell  me  at  once  what  it  is.' 

"  ' '  That  is  a  question  which  will  be  rather  difficult  to 
answer,'  he  replied.  'At  this  moment,  as  you  see,  I  am 
a  distressed  carpenter;  but  what  I  shall  be  to-morrow  is 
in  the  womb  of  fate.  I  have  been  the  round  of  all 
known  trades  and  professions.  A  horsedealer  to-day,  a 
lawyer  to-morrow ;  this  day  a  chimney-sweep,  the  next  a 


250        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

distressed  clergyman.  For  instance,  do  you  recollect — 
for  further  concealment  is  unnecessary,'  he  continued, 
with  the  merry  twinkle  of  his  eye  to  which  I  have 
already  referred — do  you  recollect  a  poor  cobbler  who 
paid  you  a  visit  a  week  or  two  back,  whose  all  was 
beneath  his  hat,  and  his  end  certain  unless  you  relieved 
him?' 

"  ' '  Why,'  I  ejaculated,  in  astonishment,  '  surely — ' 
"  *  *  Your  humble  servant,  sir,  and  no  mistake,'  he 
coolly  replied,  with  a  low  bow.  'And  perhaps  you  have 
not  altogether  forgotten  a  distressed  stonemason,  who 
satisfied  your  scruples  by  telling  you  what  the  rough 
ashlar  smelt  off 

"  '  'And  was  that  one  of  your  performances  also  ?'  I 
inquired. 

"  ' '  The  same,  sir.  I  am  Proteus.  Ever  ready  lonnier 
cosaque,  as  the  Parisian  gamins  would  say.' 
"  ' '  Then  you  have  been  in  Paris  ?' 
"  "  I  have  been  everywhere.  It  would  be  difficult  to 
say  where  I  have  not  been.  Experience  is  a  faithful 
instructor,  and  I  have  been  some  years  under  its  tuition. 
And  you  shall  hear  what  an  apt  scholar  I  have  been.  I 
once  bet  a  guinea  wkh  a  pal — you  may  stare,  sir,  but  I 
sometimes  have  a  fugitive  guinea  in  my  pocket  to  sport 
with,  as  well  as  my  betters.  Where  was  I?  O ! — I  was 
saying,  I  bet  a  guinea  that  I  succeeded  in  obtaining  relief 
from  the  Treasurer  of  a  certain  Lodge,  which  shall  be 
nameless,  six  times  within  the  compass  of  fourteen  days. 
Having  at  rny  command  the  choice  of  every  species  of 
disguise  at  the  rate  of  sixpence  a  day,  I  accomplished 
the  feat,  and  the  poor  dupe  remains  in  perfect  ignorance 
to  the  present  moment  that  he  has  been  imposed  on. 
And  sir,'  he  said,  lowering  his  tone  of  voice,  'excuse  me, 
sir,  but  I  flatter  myself,  if  I  had  not  been  so  unfortunate 
as  to  encounter  both  of  you  together,  that  the  experiment 
might  have  been  safely  and  successfully  repeated,  although 
the  representative  of  Wisdom  in  your  Lodge  does  possess 
the  Jewel  of  Sir  Christopher  Wren.' 

"  '  The  clever  scamp  chuckled  over  his  reminiscences, 
and  suddenly  turning  on  his  heel,  and  looking  me  full  in 
the  face,  he  said,  in  a  half-whisper, — '  By  the  bye,  you 
don't  happen  to  have  such  a  thing  as  half  a  crown  about 
you?' 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        251 

"  « 'Why?  you  impudent  rogue — * 

"  *  '  Stop  a  moment,  if  you  please,  dear  Brother,'  he 
said,  with  his  usual  quiet  smile  and  twinkle  of  the  eye, 
accompanied  by  the  most  unruffled  composure — '  don't 
be  impatient,  I  beseech  you.  I  was  about  to  add,  that 
if  you  have  such  a  thing  to  dispose  of,  I  am  ready  to 
purchase  it  by  communicating  a  secret  which  is  worth 
its  weight  in  gold.'  . 

11  'This  proposal,'  continued  the  Treasurer,  'under  the 
circumstances,  I  thought  peculiarly  insulting,  particular- 
ly as  the  fellow  had  assumed  that  remarkably  knowing 
look  which  seemed  to  indicate  that  he  intended  mischief. 
I  had  no  wish  to  be  victimized ;  but  as  the  risk  was 
trifling  in  amount,  even  if  I  got  nothing  in  exchange  for 
my  coin,  I  consented  to  the  proposal,  simply  for  the 
purpose  of  ascertaining  how  far  the  fellow's  impudence 
would  carry  him ;  and  while  he  pocketed  the  gratuity,  I 
heard  him  mutter, — '  Well,  you're  a  trump  any  how — • 
you  are — and  no  mistake  !  I  will  say  that ;  and  I'll  not 
lose  sight  of  you.'  And  then  he  said  aloud, — <  The  secret 
I  have  to  communicate  is  dirt  cheap  at  half  a  crown. 
Listen'  to  it : 

"  ' '  TAKE  CARE  WHO  YOU  ADMIT  AS  CANDIDATES,  AND 
YOU  WILL  HAVE  FEWER  BEGGING  MASONS.'  ' 

"You  will  be  at  no  loss  to  conclude,"  said  the  Square, 
"  from  these  Revelations,  that  things  went  on  very 
pleasantly  with  us.  We  had  changes  of  Masters,  it  is 
true;  but  they  all  possessed  average  ability,  and  some 
were  distinguished  by  superior  attainments.  Nothing 
further  occurred,  however,  worthy  of  a  special  notice  till 
the  commencement  of  the  nineteenth  century,  when  the 
Rev.  Jethro  Inwood  was  unanimously  elected  to  fill  the 
Chair  of  the  Lodge." 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

LEGENDS. REV.    JETHRO    INWOOD. 

1800—1803. 


i;To  Heaven's  high  Architect  all  praise, 

All  praise,  all  gratitude  be  given  ; 
Who  deign'd  the  human  soul  to  raise 

By  mystic  secrets  sprung  from  Heaven." 

HENRY  DAGGE. 

*  There  is  no  violation  of  truth  in  affirming  that,  in  London  especial- 
ly, propositions  for  initiation  into  Masonry  are  often  too  easily,  if  not 
eagerly  received,  on  the  bare  general  recommendation  of  the  proposer, 
and  payment  of  the  customary  fees.  But  if  character  and  circum- 
stances were  cautiously  weighed  in  the  qualification  of  candidates, 
though  the  Society  might  not  be  quite  so  numerous,  the  members  of 
it  would,  in  proportion,  be  more  respectable,  both  as  men,  and  as 
Masons." — NOORTHOUCK.  • 

"  Masonry  has  no  principle  but  what  might  still  more  ornament  the 
purest  mind ;  nor  any  appendage  but  what  might  give  additional  lustre 
to  the  brightest  character.  By  the  exercise  of  the  duties  of  Masonry, 
the  rich  may  add  abundantly  to  the  fund  of  their  eternal  inheritance. 
The  wise  may  increase  their  knowledge  of  the  nature  of  God,  in  all 
his  best  perfections,  and  thereby  daily  grow  still  more  wise  unto 
eternal  salvation.  The  pure  in  heart  may  be  always  advancing  in  the 
divine  likeness ;  and  they  who  walk  in  this  path  of  the  just,  with 
zeal  and  activity,  will  find  it  as  the  shining  LIGHT,  which  shineth 
more  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day." — INWOOD. 


"  I  AM  about  to  exceed  the  limits  of  our  covenant," 
said  the  Square,  swinging  scientifically  round  on  its 
dexter  limb,  with  a  slow  and  even  motion,  as  if  trying  to 
describe  some  imaginary  circle  in  the  air,  "  in  which,  on 
certain  conditions,  I  promised  to  reveal  some  of  the 
peculiar  practices  of  our  Brethren  in  the  eighteenth 
century;  and  as  you  have  adhered  so  faithfully  to  the  pre- 
liminary contract,  by  suffering  me  to  proceed  without 
interruption,  I  shall  reward  your  constancy  by  continu- 
ing my  Revelations  for  a  few  years  longer,  that  I  may 
have  an  opportunity  of  describing  the  causes  which  pro- 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        253 

duced  the  extinction  of  the  schism  that  divided  the  Fra- 
ternity into  two  hostile  sections  for  three  quarters  of  a 
century ;  and  it  is  probable  that  I  may  be  able  to  furnish 
a  few  new  facts  which  may  prove  interesting  to  you." 

I  replied  to  my  gossiping  companion  by  a  nod,  and 
the  sign  of  silence;  for,  to  say  the  truth,  I  had  become 
so  accustomed  to  his  lively  conversation,  that  I  shall 
regret  its  termination,  whenever  it  may  happen  to  cease. 

"Aye,"  said  he,  "  you  are  at  liberty  to  employ  our 
universal  language,  but  not  to  speak ;  and  I  am  glad  to 
find  that  you  have  learned  your  lesson  so  perfectly. 

"I  have  already  told  you,"  he  continued,  "that  our 
present  Master  was  the  Kev.  Jethro  Inwood,  curate  of  St. 
Paul's,  at  Deptford ;  and  his  opening  address,  delivered 
after  his  installation,  was  directed  at  a  very  prevalent 
objection  of  the  Antimasons,  that  the  Institution  is  deisti- 
cal.  He  began  thus: — 

"  '  When  the  Almighty  found  it  expedient  to  promul- 
gate a  code  of  laws  for  the  especial  government  of  the 
Israelites,  after  their  deliverance  from  Egyptian  bondage, 
to  preserve  them  as  a  nation  distinct  from  the  idolatrous 
people  amongst  whom  they  were  placed,  he  gave  them 
a  religious  institution,  formed  upon  exclusive  principles, 
which  was  intended  to  be  the  cement  of  his  ordinances, 
himself  being  the  chief  Ruler  and  Governor  both  of  the 
civil  and  religious  polity;  and  he  constituted  Aaron  his 
authorized  deputy  over  the  one,  and  Moses  over  the 
other.  On  this  model  Freemasonry  has  been  formed, 
but  at  an  unapproachable  distance.  To  render  the 
parallel  as  complete  as  circumstances  would  admit,  our 
ancient  Brethren  made  the  degrees  of  Masonry  to  corre* 
spond  with  the  permanent  and  strongly-marked  divisions 
of  the  Tabernacle,  where  the  system  was  enunciated  by 
a  regular  series  of  symbolical  machinery.  In  a  word, 
everything  connected  with  the  Tabernacle  and  its 
services,  was  typical  of  a  better  dispensation,  whose 
builder  and  maker  is  God. 

"  '  It  is  not  my  intention,  however,  to  detain  you  on 
the  present  occasion  with  an  explanation  of  all  the  em- 
blems which  were  embodied  in  this  primitive  temple; 
and,  indeed,  the  attempt  would  exceed  the  limits  of  a 
single  oration,  confined,  as  it  must  necessarily  be,  within 
a  very  circumscribed  space  of  time.  I  shall  merely 


254        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

allude  to  a  few  brief  particulars  which  appear  to  be 
apposite  in  their  application  equally  to  Freemasonry  and 
Christianity.  The  Tabernacle  was  built  due  east  and 
west,  in  commemoration  of  that  great  and  mighty  wind 
which  first  blew  east  and  then  west,  to  divide  the  Red 
Sea  for  their  safe  transit,  and  the  total  destruction  of  the 
Egyptian  army.  For  the  same  reason  our  Lodges  are 
placed  due  east  and  west,  in  common  with  all  Christian 
places  of  worship,  for  Wisdom  sprang  out  of  the  east, 
^and  thence  spread  over  the  western  parts  of  the  world. 

"  *  Our  Lectures  refer  to  Christianity  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  Jewish  dispensation  did,  viz.,  by  types 
and  significant  references.  The  First  Great  Light  is  the 
very  basis  and  pillar  of  Christianity.  The  Theological 
Ladder  is  invested  with  a  Christian  reference ;  the  Two 
Parallels  in  our  system  of  Masonry  are  Christians.  Those 
who  aim  at  neutralizing  these  and  other  similar  refer- 
ences, or,  in  other  worcls,  of  preserving  the  universality 
of  Masonry  by  depriving  it  of  its  allusions  to  our  holy 
religion,  little  think  that,  by  such  arguments,  they  deny 
the  truth  of  God's  dispensation  to  Moses,  and  refuse  to 
acknowledge  with  the  Apostle,  that  it  was  intended  as  a 
schoolmaster  to  bring  us  to  Christ.  If  the  Jewish  reli- 
gion was  truly  a  type  of  Christianity,  so  is  Freemasonry. 
The  conclusion  is  inevitable,  because  the  Lectures  of 
Masonry  embody  many  of  the  historical  facts,  ordinances, 
and  types  of  that  ancient  religion  which  was  communi- 
cated to  man  by  the  Deity  himself.' 

"These  orthodox  sentiments,"  said  the  Square,  "pro- 
ceeding from  -the  mouth  of  a  reverend  divine  who  had 
distinguished  himself  as  a  zealous  and  learned  Mason, 
were  highly  applauded,  and  anticipations  of  an  edifying 
year  were  indulged  by  all  the  members  of  the  Lodge 
without  exception.  Their  hopes  were  amply  realized ; 
and  the  popularity  of  his  government  formed  a  theme  of 
congratulation,  which  extended  beyond  the  four  walls  of 
the  Lodge.  His  quiet  and  gentlemanly  manners,  and 
his  method  of  imparting  instruction  to  newly-initiated 
candidates  by  a  free  conversation  with  other  members 
who  proposed  such  questions  for  elucidation  as  they 
themselves  might  be  inclined  to  ask,  brought  a  host 
of  visitors  every  Lodge  night,  and  a  marked  increase  of 
initiations. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        255 

'  One  evening,  I  remember  it  well,"  the  Square  con- 
tinued, "after  the  business  of  the  Lodge  had  been  dis- 
posed of,  a  candidate,  recently  initiated,  whose  name 
was  Lambert,  rose  and  said — '  R.  W.  Sir,  if  I  am  not 
taking  too  great  a  liberty — and  as  Lhave  had  very  little 
experience,  I  am,  of  course,  unable  to  determine  whether 
I  am  in  order  or  not — I  should  be  glad  if  you  would 
inform  me  by  what  process  you  acquired  such  a  perfect 
insight  into  the  mysteries  of  Masonry,  that  I  may  steer 
my  course  by  your  example,  for  I  confess  to  the  soft 
impeachment  of  an  ambition  to  become  a  good  practical 
Mason,' 

"  '  And  a  laudable  ambition  it  is,'  replied  the  R.  W.  M. ; 
'nor  can  I  have  the  slightest  objection  to  gratify  your 
curiosity  by  delineating  the  pursuits  of  my  early  masonic 
career.  When  I  was  but  a  boy,  having  been  made  a 
Mason,  as  a  Lewis,  at  eighteen  years  of  age,  I  determined 
to  fathom  the  very  lowest  depths  of  Masonry ;  and  for 
that  purpose  I  commenced  a  regular  course  of  study  in 
the  principles  of  the  Order,  under  the  instructions  of  my 
father ;  and,  as  it  was  a  labour  of  love,  I  made  a  rapid 
progress.  In  fact,  I  am  not  ashamed  to  say  that  I  entered 
on  the  pursuit  with  an  alacrity,  equal,  at  least,  if  not 
superior,  to  that  of  reading  for  my  degree  at  the  univer- 
sity. I  soon  became  thoroughly. master  of  the  Prestonian 
Lectures  in  all  the  degrees,  and  capable  of  going  through 
the  ceremonies  of  making,  passing,  and  raising  with  equal 
promptitude  and  precision.' 

"'And  you  had  sufficient  resolution  to  persevere  in 
this  dry  study?'  said  Bro.  Lambert,  inquiringly. 

"  '  Resolution  !'  the  R.  W.  M.  responded.  *  To  be  sure 
I  had.  And  so  far  from  finding  it  what  you  term  a  dry 
study,  I  became  enthusiastically  fond  of  it ;  and,  in  about 
four  years  after  my  initiation,  I  found 'myself  in  circum- 
stances of  great  popularity  with  the  Craft,  and  became 
Master  of  the  Lodge  in  which  I  had  been  admitted  a 
Mason.' 

"  '  I  should  like  to  know,'  said  Bro.  Lambert, '  whether 
you  had  any  extraneous  assistance — I  mean,  whether  you 
had  the  %  advantage  of  printed  publications  to  facilitate 
the  acquirement  of  the  Lodge  Lectures  T 

"'In  answer  to  this  home  question,'  the  R.  W.  M. 
said,  '  the  truth  is — and  I  name  it  by  way  of  caution — 
12 


256        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

that,  immediately  after  receiving  my  First  Degree,  I  was 
invited  to  spend  a  few  weeks  in  Leicestershire ;  and 
a  masonic  friend,  perceiving  my  eagerness  to  acquire 
information  in  the  Lectures  and  ceremonies,  placed  in 
my  hands  a  pamphlet  called  u  Jachin  and  Boaz/' 

"'"Jachin  and  Boaz!"'  exclaimed  Bro.  Lambert, 
eagerly ;  *  aye,  I  have  seen  the  book — I  have  read  it. 
But,  surely,  that  work  does  not  contain  a  correct  por- 
traiture of  Freemasonry '?' 

"  *  You  shall  hear,'  replied  Bro.  Inwood.  *  Did  you 
„  ever  read  about  the  mirage  in  the  arid  steppes  of  the 
desert,  which  mocks  the  thirsty  traveller  with  hopes 
that  are  destined  to  be  disappointed?  Well,  thus  it 
was  with  me.  At  first,  the  possession  of  this  pamphlet 
appeared  to  be  a  God-send ;  and  I  felt  as  much  gratified 
by  its  acquisition  as  Gil  Bias,  when  he  was  constituted 
critic  in  ordinary  to  the  Archbishop  of  Grenada.  I 
applied  myself  to  its  study  with  great  earnestness,  and 
read  it  for  whole  days  together  under  the  umbrageous 
shade  of  trees — rccubans  sub  tcgmine  fagi — with  the  full 
determination  of  making  myself  perfectly  master  of  its 
contents.  Professing  to  be  a  complete  exposition  of  the 
Lectures  and  ceremonies,  instead  of  consulting  my  father, 
as  I  ought  to  have  done,  I  entered  heart  and  soul  into 
its  merits,  and  ultimately  succeeded  in  fixing  every  line 
tenaciously  in  my  memory.  I  liked  the  excitement.  It 
was  a  rich  treat.  I  had  as  great  an  affection  for  this 
trumpery  book  as  a  young  mother  for  her  first  child,  and 
always  carried  it  in  my  bosom.  I  was  delighted  with 
the  possession  of  such  an  easy  means  of  becoming  ac- 
quainted with  the  details  of  the  Order.  But,  alas  !  it 
was  all  a  delusion ;  and  I  have  frequently  had  occasion 
to  lament  the  sacrifice  of  so  much  valuable  time  to  so 
little  purpose.' 

"  '  Well,  and  how  did  it  end?'  Bro.  Lambert  asked. 

"  *  The  result  may  be  a  useful  lesson  to  you,'  replied 
the  R.  W.  M.,  '  and  to  all  others  who  seek  for  a  royal 
road  to  the  knowledge  of  Masonry;  or,  in  other  words, 
who  are  desirous  of  becoming  learned  Masons  without  a 
devoted  application  of  the  adjuncts  of  time,  labour,  and 
serious  meditation.  When  I  received  the  Third  Degree 
of  Masonry,  I  found  that  all  my  pains  and  anxiety  had 
been  wasted,  and  that  the  pretended  revelations,  like  the 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        257 

forgeries  of  poor  Chatterton,  were  a  gross  imposition 
Nay,  it  was  worse  than  leisure  misapplied,  for  the  im- 
pressions already  produced  interfered  materially  with 
the  subsequent  study  of  our  legitimate  Lectures  ;  and  I 
found  the  task  of  obliterating  from  my  memory  that 
which  is  false,  more  difficult  than  acquiring  a  perfect 
knowledge  of  that  which  is  true.  It  was  a  work  of 
retrogression,  and  mortified  me  exceedingly.  I  had  been 
deceived  on  the  threshold  of  Masonry,  and  the  wonder 
is,  that  I  did  not  relinquish  the  pursuit  in  disgust,  as 
numbers  do  every  day  from  causes  infinitely  less  influ- 
ential.' 

"  '  But  you  persevered  ?' 

"  '  I  did  ;  for  there  is  a  springiness  in  the  ardent  nature 
of  youth  which  is  not  easily  discouraged.  On  a  reference 
to  my  venerated  father,'  I  found  I  had  been  duped  ;  but 
I  did  not  allow  the  imposition  to  quench  the  spirit  of 
inquiry  which  had  been  excited  in  my  bosom.  I  made 
the  best  use  of  the  means  at  my  disposal,  and,  by  dint  of 
severe  application,  I  became  at  length  fully  indoctrinated 
in  the  ceremonies,  rituals,  and  genuine  Lectures  of  the 
Order.  And  if  you  will  pursue  the  same  process,  I  doubt 
not  but  your  exertions  will  be  rewarded  with  the  same 
success. 

"  *  Then  huzza  for  a  tough  spell  of  masonic  study  with- 
out the  assistance  of  "  Jachin  and  Boaz  !"  '  Bro.  Lambert 
exclaimed,  *  for  I  am  determined  to  be,  in  the  strictest 
sense  of  the  word,  a  MasQja.' 

k(  You  will  at  once  conclude,  from  this  description," 
the  Square  continued,  "  that  Bro.  Inwbod  was  an  as- 
siduous Mason ;  and  he  permitted  no  opportunity  to  pass 
unimproved  of  .storing  his  mind  with  useful  knowledge, 
or  of  imparting  instruction  to  those  who  needed  it.  At 
his  first  quarterly  supper,  a  remarkable  instance  of  this 
disposition  occurred.  Amidst  the  intervals  of  song  and 
toast,  a  private  conversation  was  going  on  between  Bro. 
Dent  and  a  visiting  Brother  from  the  country,  by  which 
the  former  seemed  greatly  interested.  At  length,  during 
the  brief  silence  which  succeeded  a  song,  Bro.  Dent  was 
heard  to  say — '  Are  you  really  in  earnest,  when  you  tell 
me  that  such  a  belief  prevails  extensively  in  the  pro- 
vinces ?' 

"  This  was  heard  by  the  Chair,  who  immediately  said 


258         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

— *  Bro.  Dent,  have  you  forgot  that  excellent  Charge, 
which  forbids  you  to  hold  separate  conversations,  without 
leave  from  the  Master?  If  your  communication  with 
our  visiting  Brother  be  on  the  subject  of  Masonry,  I  am 
sure  you  will  not  deprive  us  of  any  benefits  .which  may 
be  derived  from  it.  If  important,  let  us  hear  it ;  if  not, 
I  call  on  you  for  a  song.' 

"  On  this  challenge  from  the  Chair,"  the  Square  con- 
tinued, "Bro.  Dent  rose  and  said — 'R.  W.  Sir,  whether 
the  conversation  between  myself  and  friend,  whom  I 
have  already  introduced  to  you  by  the  name  of  Bro.  trie 
Rev.  Samuel  Oliver,  from  Leicester,'  (your  respected 
parent,)"  said  the  Square,  parenthetically  ;  "  but  it  hap- 
pened before  you  were  initiated,  and,  therefore,  you  are 
probably,  ignorant  of  the  circumstance." 

I  gave  a  nod,  to  signify  that  it  might  be  new  to  me ; 
but  I  thought  it  scarcely  probable,  as,  indeed,  it  proved 
when  the  Revelation  was  made,  for  I  had  heard  the 
greater  part  of  it  from  my  father's  own  lips. 

The  Square,  however,  went  on  with  Bro.  Dent's  reply 
— "  '  Whether  Bro.  Oliver's  communication  be  or  be  not 
worthy  of  your  attention,  is  not  for  me  to  determine.  I 
can  only  say  that  he  was  detailing  a  series  of  facts,  if 
facts  they  be,  which  have  astonished  me  not  a  little.' 

"  *  Let"  us  hear,  let  us  hear,'  said  the  R.  W.  M.  *  If  the 
matter  be  interesting,  as  you  represent,  we  can  afford  to 
suspend  our  convivialities  for  a  few  minutes  to  share  in 
your  surprise.' 

"  '  Nay,'  Bro.  Dent  responded,  '  I  have  only  heard  the 
commencement  'of  the  strange  recital ;  but  it  appears 
that  there  are  some  mysteries  in  each  of  the  Three  De- 
grees, of  which  we  Metropolitan  Masons  Are  profoundly 
ignorant.' " 

At  this  point  the  Square,  with  one  of  liis  quaint- twirls 
on  the  point  of  his  dexter  limb,  interrupted  himself  by  a 
reference  to  a  remark  of  the  witty  Dean  of  St.  Patrick's, 
who  said  that  some  people  are  much  more  dexterous 
at  pulling  down  and  setting  up,  than  at  preserving  what 
is  fixed ;  and  they  are  not  fonder  of  seizing  more  than 
their  own,  than  they  are  of  delivering  it  up  again  to  the 
worst  bidder,  with  their  own  into  the  bargain.  And  to 
this  observation  he  might  have  added,  that  it  is  doubtful 
whether  what  they  set  up  is  half  so  useful  or  half  so 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        259 

true  as  what  they  pull  down.  You  shall  judge  for 
yourself,  when  I  have  repeated  the  following  conversa- 
tion. 

"Bro.  Dent  went  on  to  say, — 'From  what  I  have 
heard  this  evening,  some  of  the  country  Lodges  are  dis- 
posed on  a  novel  principle,  which  appears  to  militate 
against  our  preconceived  notions;  and  the  Entered  Ap- 
prentices are  instructed  to  entertain  the  doctrine  as  a 
matter  of  faith.'  ^ 

"  Bro.  Preston  declared  that  the  information  would  be 
peculiarly  interesting  to  him,  should  it  contain  anything 
new ;  as  he  had  already  bestowed  infinite  pains  in  the 
collection  of  facts  on  all  subjects  connected  with  the 
usages  and  customs  which  exist  amongst  the  Craft  in 
every  part  of  the  world. 

"  Bro.  Oliver  was  then  requested  by  the  Chair  to  re- 
capitulate his  communications,  that  the  Brethren  might 
have  an  opportunity  of  judging  whether  they  are  in 
accordance  with  ancient  custom. 

"Bro.  Oliver  rose  and  said,  'He  was  not  aware  that 
the  •  conversation  with  his  friend  Bro.  Dent  would  have 
had  the  effect  qf  bringing  him  out  so  prominently  before 
the  Lodge,  nor  did  he  believe  that  an  assembly  of  Breth- 
ren so  well  versed  in  the  usages  of  the  Craft,  would  be 
edified  by  anything  he  might  have  to  say.  It  is  true,' 
he  continued,  '  that  some  R.  W.  Masters,  but  not  in  the 
Lodge  to  which  I  belong,  make  a  point  of  instilling  into 
the  minds  of  the  Apprentices  the  form  of  the  Lodge  and 
the  disposition  of  its  furniture;  because  they  think  this 
knowledge  constitutes  an  excellent  foundation  for  any 
superstructure  which  they  may  find  occasion  to  erect 
upon  it.  And  I  shall  have  great  pleasure  in  communi- 
cating all  I  know  on  the  subject,  with  this  proviso,  that 
the  detail  will  be  found  to  embrace  many  doubtful  facts, 
to  which  I  cannot  conscientiously  subscribe.' 

"'First,  then,'  Bro.  Preston  said,  'let  us  hear  the 
hypothesis  respecting  the  form  and  disposition  of  the 
Lodge.' 

'•'Willingly,'  returned  Bro.  Oliver.  'The  form  of  the 
Lodge  is  said  to  be  in  length,  double  its  height  and 
breadth,  as  a  representation  of  the  Altar  of  incense  in 
the  Tabernacle  of  Moses,  which  was  a  double  cube.  The 
Bible,  Square,  and  Compasses  are  placed  upon  the  Tressel- 


260        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

board  before  the  Master,  in  the  east;  with  the  former 
open  at  the  book  of  Ruth.  The  Constitutions  lie  before 
the  Past  Master ;  the  Globes  before  the  Senior  Warden ; 
the  rough  Ashlar  in  the  north-east  for  the  use  of  the 
Apprentices ;  the  perfect  Ashlar  in  the  north-west  for 
the  use  of  the  Fellowcrafts;  the  Master  Masons  in  the 
south-west,  and  the  Past  Masters  in  the  south-east.  The 
Mosaic  pavement,  Blazing  star,  and  Tessellated  border, 
with  the  emblems  of  science,  are  deposited  in  the  east 
for  the  use  of  the  R.  W.  M.' 

"  *  There  is  certainly  something  new  and  ingenious  in 
this,'  Bro.  Preston  observed,  '  and  I  should  also  say, 
partially  heterodox.  But  will  you  allow  me  to  ask  you 
one  question?  Are  you  an  ancient  or.  a  modern?' 

"  « In  answer  to  this  question,'  Bro.  Oliver  replied,  *  I 
must  honestly  say  that  I  am  both.  Or  I  should  answer 
more  correctly  were  I  to  tell  you  that  I  am  acquainted 
with  the  peculiarities  of  both.  I  was  made  in  a  modern 
Lodge,  but  afterwards  became  a  member  of  another 
Lodge,  which  had  just  exchanged  its  Athol  warrant  for 
a  Constitutional  one,  and  still  continued  to  practise  the 
ancient  system.  And  in  that  Lodge  I  acquired  the  mar- 
vellous information,  which  is  very  much  at  your  service, 
if  you  think  it  worth  hearing.' 

"  *  This    preliminary    being    understood,'    said    Bro. 
Preston,  'you  will  now  permit  me  to  ask  whether  you 
have   any    varieties   to   recount  respecting  the  Second' 
Degree  ? ' 

"'We  teach  our  Fellowcrafts,'  replied  Bro.  Oliver, 
'the  particulars  of  a  curious  legend  touching  the  Pillars 
of  the  Porch.  When  the  Ark  of  Noah  rested  on  Mount 
Ararat,  and  its  inmates  came  forth,  the  Patriarch  erected 
a  Pillar,  which  was  highly  venerated  by  his  descendants, 
who  added  thereto  many  ornamental  decorations.  After 
the  migration  from  Shinar,  the  wandering  tribes  built 
pillars  in  imitation  of  this  great  prototype  in  every 
country  which  they  planted,  to  commemorate  the  uni- 
versal Deluge,  whence  the  custom  originated.  Many 
years  after  the  deliverance  from  Egypt,  Boaz  erected 
two  Pillars  on  his  estate  near  the  town  of  Bethlehem, 
one  of  which  he  called  by  his  own  name,  and  the  other 
Jachin,  after  the  son  of  Simeon,  one  of  the  twelve  tribes 
of  Israel.  These  two  Pillars  supported  an  arch  or  gate- 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        261 

way,  under  which  he  married  Ruth,  after  she  had  been 
formally  renounced  by  a  nearer  kinsman  ;  who  took  off 
one  of  his  shoes  as  a  pledge  of  his  sincerity,  and  gave  it 
to  Boaz  for  a  testimony,  in  the  presence  of  competent 
witnesses,  that  he  was  at  liberty  to  stand  in  his  shoes  as 
trie  legal  claimant  to  the  hand  of  Ruth.' 

•*  '  i  have  heard  something  of  this,'  said  Bro.  Inwood ; 
'out  have  ever  considered  it  too  absurd  to  merit  any 
serious  attention,  as  it  rests  on  no  authority  whatever ; 
and  I  am  curious  to  know  in  what  manner  this  gateway 
is  connected  with  the  Pillars  of  Solomon's  Porch.' 

'•  •  The  connection  is  thus  explained,'  replied  Bro. 
Oliver: — 'Boaz  was  the  great  grandfather  of  David;  and 
Solomon  s  Pillars  were  called  by  the  above  names  to 
commemorate  his  marriage  with  Ruth ;  for  whose  me- 
mory Solomon  is  said  to  have  entertained  such  a  respect- 
ful veneration,  that  when  David  anointed  him  King,  he 
requested  that  the  ceremony  might  be  repeated  under 
the  gate  at  Bethlehem,  which  was  supported  by  the  two 
Pillars  that  Boaz  himself  had  erected.  The  legend  fur- 
ther says  that  he  was  sleeping  under  this  gate,  and  between 
the  Pillars,  when  he  was  favoured  with  that  remarkable 
vision  where-  the  Most  High  condescended  to  offer  him 
his  choice  of  wisdom,  long  life,  or  riches,  when  he  pre- 
ferred -the  former.  Between  these  Pillars  he  married  his 
Egyptian  wife ;  and  here  Hiram  AbifF  was  first  intro- 
duced to  him  by  the  noble  prince  Adoniram.  In  the 
same  place  he  received  the  Queen  of  Sheba,  when  she 
came  to  view  the  magnificent  Temple  of  Jerusalem,  and 
to  ascertain  by  personal  communication  whether  the 
miraculous  traditions  of  nis  wisdom  and  penetration  were 
fouuded  in  fact.' 

"  '  And  this  is  the  legendary  lore  which  is  taught  in 
the  Lodges  of  our  ancient  Brethren ! '  exclained  Bro. 
Pigou.  '  I  do  not  envy  their  pretensions  to  superior 
knowledge.  After  this  explanation  we  find  no  difficulty 
in  understanding  the  boast  of  Lawrence  Dermott,  that 
ancient  Masonry  contains  everything  valuable  amongst  the 
moderns,  an  ivell  as  many  other  things  that  cannot  be  revealed 
without  additional  ceremonies.  These  absurdities,  I  con- 
clude, constitute  a  portion  of  those  other  things  which 
cannot  be  revealed.' 

" '  Your  observation  is  very  appropriate,'  said  the  R. 


262         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

W.  M. ;  l  but  let  us  have  the  whole  case  before  us,  ere 
we  venture  to  express  an  opinion  on  its  merits.' 

"  *  I  feel  considerable  interest  in  this  communication,' 
interposed  the  D.  G.  M.,  Sir  Peter  Parker,  who  happened 
to  be  present,  '  and  trust  our  visiting  Brother  will  favour 
us  with  the  remainder  of  these  curious  legends.' 

"  'The  next  point,'  Bro.  Oliver  replied,  'appertains  to 
the  Third  Degree.  The  Temple  of  Solomon  is  represented 
as  having  two  foundations,  one  beneath  the  other,  in  the 
form  of  an  oblong  square.  The  lower  foundation  is  said 
to  have  been  composed  of  compact  rows  of  stones,  in 
number  900 ;  while  the  upper  consisted  of  only  twelve 
stones,  to  represent  the  tribes,  which  were  placed  in 
three  rows,  and  were  inlaid  with  upwards  of  nine  hundred 
costly  precious  stones.  It  is  further  taught  that,  in  order 
to  perpetuate  the  infamy  of  the  Tribe  of  Dan,  which 
perpetrated  the  first  apostasy,  King  Solomon  commanded 
that  the  stone  which  appertained  to  that  tribe  should  bo 
defaced,  and  a  certain  cubical  stone,  which  had  formed 
the  basis  of  Enoch's  subterranean  Temple,  should  be 
substituted  for  it,  as  it  occupied  a  situation  immediately 
beneath  the  centre  of  the  Most  Holy  Place.' 

"'l^have  heard,'  said  Bro.  Meyrick,  '  another  version 
of  the  above  legend,  which  contains  a  more  noble  and 
rational  reference.  According  to  my  account,  the 
Temple  of  Solomon  had  three  foundations,  the  first  of 
which  contained  seventy  stones  ;  five  courses  from  north 
to  south,  and  fourteen  from  east  to  west.  The  centre 
course  corresponded  with  the  upright  of  a  cross,  whose 
tranverse  was  formed  by  two  stones  on  each  side  of  the 
eleventh  stone,  counting  from  the  east  end  of  the  centre 
row,  which  constitutes  the  upright  beam,  and  the  fourth 
stone  from  the  west.  The  stone  which  occupied  the 

Elace  where  the  beams  cross  each  other,  was  perpendicu- 
irly  under  the  centre  of  the  S.  S. ;  a  design  which  con- 
tained an  evident  reference  to  the  Cross  of  Christ ;  and 
it  was  so  placed,  that  the  portion  where  the  heart  of 
Christ  would  be  at  the  time  of  His  Crucifixion  was  ex- 
actly beneath  the  Ark  of  the  Covenant  and  the  Shekinah 
of  Glory.' 

"  Bro.  Earner,  afterwards  Sir  John  Earner,  Lord  Mayor 
of  London,  and  S.  G.  Warden  in  1798,  hoped  that  Bro. 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQt'AliE.  263 

Oliver  had  something  more  to  communicate,  arid  might 
be  allowed  to  proceed. 

"  Bro.  Oliver  replied,  'that  he  had  very  little  to  add, 
except  on  the  subject  of  the  Temple  decorations,  which 
probably  are  known  to  every  Brother  present,  and  which 
it  may,  therefore,  be  unnecessary  to  detail.' 

" '  Go  on,  go  on,'  was  heard  from  every  part  of  the 
Lodge ;  and  Bro.  Oliver  proceeded  to  say  that  the  num- 
ber of  precious  stones  in  the  Holy  Place  is  said  to  have 
been  22,288,  arranged  in  symbolic  figures  by  Hiram 
AbiiF.  In  the  most  Holy  Place  were  603,550  precious 
stones,  in  commemoration  of  the  offerings  of  the  children 
of  Israel  towards  the  construction  of  the  Tabernacle. 
The  centre  of  the  ceiling  was  decorated  with  a  hierogram 
of  the  Sacred  Name,  curiously  wrought  with  precious 
stones,  in  the  form  of  a  circle,  inscribed  within  a  square  ; 
which  produced  a  more  dazzling  effect  than  the  most 
superb  rose- window  in  one  of  our  richest  cathedrals. 

"  Now,  what  value  do  you  suppose  our  sapient  Brethren 
place  on  these  precious  stones  ?"  said  the  Square,  paren- 
thetically. "  Open  your  mouth  wide,  and  I  will  fill  it. 
Why  no  less  a  sum  than  sixty-two  thousand  six  hundred 
and  seventy-five  millions  of  pounds  sterling ! ! ! 

"  Our  erudite  visitor  proceeded  to  inform  us — and  you 
will  not  be  surprised  to  hear  that  we  listened  with  due 
attention — although  he.  personally  repudiated  the  facts 
as  being  too  incredible  for  belief — yet  he  had  heard  them 
insisted  on  with  great  pertinacity  in  a  Lodge  that  he 
could  name.  '  In  the.  Temple  were  10,480,000  gold  and 
silver  vessels,  which  cost  6,904,832,500  pounds  sterling. 
The  workmen's  wages  amounted  to  140,000,000  sterling ; 
and  the  inferior  materials  to  150,000,000  pounds.  The 
expense  of  the  whole  building  was  69,869,832,500  ster- 
ling pounds ! 

"  'After  all  these  expenses  had  been  incurred  and  satis- 
fied, as  the  legend  asserts,  the  funds  subscribed  by  David, 
Solomon,  Hiram,  the  Queen  of  Sheba,  and  others,  were 
unexhausted;  for  David  himself  contributed  911,416,207 
pounds ;  and  the  Queen  of  Sheba  eighty  thousand 
millions  of  pounds !  It  appears,  therefore,  that  the  sum 
of  11,041,583,707  pounds  remained  as  an  available  sur- 
plus after  the  work  was  finished,  for  Solomon  to  amuse 
12* 


264         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

himself  with,  in  the  erection  of  palaces  and  towns  at  his 
pleasure !' 

"  This  perilous  stuff,"  the  Square  observed,  "  which 
is  indebted  for  its  origin  to  the  Jewish  cabalists,  has 
very  properly  become  obsolete.  Freemasonry  has  been 
judiciously  weeded  since  the  union,  and  all  such  glaring 
improbabilities  cancelled.  But,  sir,  as  my  sole  object  in 
making  these  revelations  is  to  display  Masonry  as  it  was 
in  actual  operation  during  the  last  century,  a  brief  notice 
of  these  puerilities  could  not  be  consistently  avoided.  I 
think  I  have  already  told  you  that  they  were  originally 
imported  from  the  continent,  like  a  cargo  of  smuggled 
merchandize,  and  \vere  openly  practised  in  the  Athol 
Lodges  as  a  constituent  part  of  the  system.  Some  of  the 
constitutional  Masons  followed  this  pernicious  example, 
in  defiance  of  the  repeated  cautions  of  the  Grand 
Lodge. 

"  The  harmony  of  the  evening,"  continued  the  Square, 
"  was  not  disturbed  by  these  communications ;  and  Bro. 
Oliver,  though  a  very  indifferent  singer,  at  the  request 
of  the  R.  W.  M.,  favoured  the  Lodge  with  an  original 
song  of  his  own  composition,  which  was  highly  ap- 
plauded, to  the  old  tune  of  *  Balinamona  ora,'  which  you 
shall  hear. 

4  As  journeying  in  darkness  through  life's  toilsome  way, 
The  cheerful  light  darting  not  one  feeble  ray ; 
No  friendly  companion  my  sorrows  to  smother, 
Kind  fortune  at  last  sent  a  true-hearted  Brother. 

4  Sing  Balinamona  ora,  &c. 
A  Mason's  the  guardian  for  me. 

4  His  words  smooth  as  oil,  and  as  honey  were  sweet ; 
He  guided  my  path  and  directed  my  feet ; 
He  mysteries  and  dangers  with  me  did  explore, 
Through  a  lab'rynth  of  horrors  I  ne'er  trod  before. 

*  The  terrors  of  darkness  encompass'd  me  round : 
But  light,  truth,  and  friendship  I  speedily  found. 
No  suspicion  of  falsehood  can  ever  appear, 

To  proceed  from  a  Mason  who  acts  on  the  square. 

*  By  signs  and  words  guarded,  like  Argus's  eyes, 
All  guile  and  deceit  a  Freemason  defies ; 

He  li ves  within  compass,  he  works  with  his  tools  ; 
And  levels  his  ways  fry  the  Grand  Master's  rules. 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  265 

At  length  quite  enlighten'd,  experience  and  truth 
Beam'd  rays  of  refulgence  from  East,  West,  and  South  ^ 
I  never  beheld  so  resplendent  a  scene  ; 
And  none  but  a  Mason  can  tell  what  I  mean. 

'No  longer  in  darkness  I  now  grope  my  way, 
Illum'd  by  the  beauty  and  glory  of  day, 
The  dense  mists  of  error  that  clouded  my  sight 
Are  dispersed  and  destroyed  by  the  Science  of  Light. 

*  So  now,  being  fearful  I  trespass  too  long, 
I  beg  to  conclude  with  my  thanks  and  my  song; 
Your  praises,  dear  Brethren,  I'll  sing  while  I've  breath, 
May  we  meet  in  the  Grand  Lodge  above  after  death !' 

"A  few  evenings  afterwards — it  was  in  the  month  of 
November,  if  my  memory  does  not  deceive  me,"  my 
amusing  companion  proceeded  to  say,  "when  we  had 
some  initiations  coming  oft',  I  was  entertaining  myself 
with  certain  profound1  reflections  on  the  peculiar  situa- 
tion of  a  candidate,  as  I  lay  reposing  on  the  cushion  of 
the  pedestal  before  the  Brethren  assembled,  which  were 
interrupted  by  the  entrance  of  the  K.  W.  M.,  and  a  very 
numerous  company  of  Brethren. 

"After  the  Lodge  was  opened,  and  the  minutes  read 
and  confirmed,"  pursued  the  Square,  "our  Rev.  Brother 
produced  from  a  small  casket  a  medal,  which  he  handed 
round  the  Lodge  that  all  th'e  Brethren  rnight  see  it, 
observing  '  that  it  was  intended  to  strike  off  a  sufficient 
number  of  them  for  distribution  amongst  the  Craft,  to 
commemorate  the  appointment  of  their  R.  H.  the  Prince 
of  Wales  (afterwards  George  IV.)  as  Grand  Master  of 
Masons,  and  the  Duke  of  Clarence  (afterwards  William 
IV.)  as  Grand  Principal  of  the  Royal  Arch.  He  was 
acquainted,'  he  said,  'with  the  artist,  who  had  en- 
trusted the  proof  to  him  for  a  few  hours  to  exhibit  to 
the  Lodge.'  After  the  beauty  of  the  design  and  chaste- 
ness  of  the  execution  had  been  sufficiently  admired,  the 
business  of  the  Lodge  proceeded.2 

"We  had  three  initiations ;  and  after  the  ceremonies 
were  -completed,  and  the  Prestonian  Charge  read,  the  R. 

1  Profound !     The  Square  vaunteth  itself !     What  an  egotistical 
nonentity  it  is !     Umbras  falsae  gloriae  consectatur ! — P.  D. 

2  See  the  Lithograph  of  this  beautiful  Medal,  which  will  be  more 
satisfactory  than  the  most  elaborate  description. 


266        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

% 

W.  M.,  turning  to  the  north-east,  said,  with  great  solemn 
ity  arid  effect, — 

"  '  Brethren  and  friends,  the  usual  routine  prescribed 
by  our  ritual  at  the  initiation  of  candidates  into  Masonry 
having  been  accomplished,  it  may  be  necessary  to  enter 
on  some  special  explanation  of  our  rites ;  that  you  may 
not  esteem  them  to  be  frivolous  or  trifling;  for  the 
minutest  observance,  which  you  have  this  evening  wit- 
nessed, has  its  peculiar  reference  to  some  dignified  virtue; 
or  to  some  ancient  observance  which  points  out  a  moral 
duty.' 

"  *  Perhaps,  R.  W.  Sir,'  said  Bro.  Jones,  rising  from 
his  seat,  'I  humbly  venture  to  suggest — perhaps  you 
would  be  kind  enough  first  to  explain  to  the  candidates 
what  a  Freemason  is  ;  for,  although  they  may  have  heard 
a  great  deal  about  Masonry,  and  may  have  desired  admit- 
tance amongst  us  from  a  sincere  wish  of  being  service- 
able to  their  fellow-creatures,  yet,  from  a  hint  which  I 
have  just  received  across  the  table,  they  are  anxious  to 
know  what  are  the  exclusive  privileges  and  characteristics 
of  a  worthy  Brother.' 

"  *  I  shall  have  much  pleasure,'  Bro.  Inwood  replied, 
'  in  attending  to  your  recommendation.'  Then  turning 
once  more  to  the  north-east,  he  said,  *  A  Fremason,  my 
Brethren,  is  a  free  man,  born  of  a  free  woman,  a  brother 
to  kings,  and  a  companion  to  princes,  if  they  be  Masons  ; 
an  assumption  which  will  be  illustrated  by  the  Senior 
Warden,  if  you  will  give  him  your  attention.' 

"The  Senior  Warden  then  rose,  and  said, — 'Brethren, 
by  command  of  the  R.  W.  M.,  I  will  endeavour  to  explain 
the  hypothesis  of  our  perfect  freedom,  and  our  jealousy 
lest  the  vicious  habits  of  slavery  should  contaminate  the 
true  principles  on  which  Masonry  is  founded.  You  will 
observe  that  many  of  our  usages  and  customs  originated 
at  the  building  of  the  Temple  of  Jerusalem.  Now  our 
ancient  Brethren,  who  were  employed  by  King  Solomon 
to  work  at  this  famous  edifice  were  declared  free,  and 
exempted  from  all  imposts,  duties,  and  taxes  for  them 
and  their  descendants.  They  were  also  invested  with 
the  privilege  of  bearing  arms.  At  the  destruction  of 
the  Temple  by  Nebuchadnezzar,  the  posterity  of  these 
Masons  were  carried  into  captivity  with  the  Jews.  But 
when  the  time  of  their  humiliation  was  expired,  by  the 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        267 

ill  of  Cyrus  they  were'permitted  to  erect  a  second 
Temple*  being  declared  free  for  that  purpose.  Hence 
we  are  called  Freemasons.  The  custom  of  accepting  as 
candidates  none  but  the  sons  of  free  women,  dates  its 
origin  from  a  much1  earlier  period;  even  from  the  time 
when  Abraham  held  a  solemn  festival  at  the  weaning  of 
his  son  Isaac,  when  Ishmael  amused  himself  by  teasing 
and  perplexing  the  young  child.  When  Sarah  was 
acquainted  with  this,  she  remonstrated  with  Abraham, 
requesting  him  to  put  away  the  bond-woman  Hagar  and 
her  son,  as  they  were  not  competent  -to  inherit  with  the 
free-born.  She  spoke  by  divine  inspiration,  as  she  knew 
that  from  Isaac's  loins  would  spring  a  great  and  mighty 
people,  who  would  serve  the  Lord  with  freedom,  fer- 
vency, and  zeal;  and  she  feared  that  if  the  lads  were 
brought  up  together,  Isaac  might  imbibe  some  of  Ish- 
mael's  slavish  principles;  for  it  is  well  known  that  the 
minds  of  slaves  are  more  contaminated  than  of  those  who 
are  born  free.' 

"The  K.  W.  M.  then  resumed  his  instructions,  by 
calling  the  attention  of  the  candidates  to  the  fact  that 
4 these,  two  persons,  Ishmael  and  Isaac,  to  whom  the 
Senior  Warden  has  referred,  are  typical  of  the  Law  and 
the  Gospel;  the  one  given  by  Christ;  the  other  by 
Moses;  and  the  circumstance  has  been  embodied, in  Free- 
masonry to  show,  that  although  a  person  may  have  been 
born  of  a  free  woman — although  he  may  have  been  made 
a  Mason,  and  entitled  to  all  the  privileges  of  initiation — 
yet  if  he  undervalues  these  privileges,  arid  neglects  to 
improve  his  mind  by  an  application  of  the  doctrines  and 
precepts  which  he  hears  in  the  Lodge,  instead  of  profit- 
ing by  his  freedom  as  Isaac  did,  he  will  be  no  better 
than  a  profane  bond-slave  like  Ishmael,  who  was  cast 
out  from  his  father's  house  as  unworthy  of  any  share  in 
the  inheritance.  It  was  by  the  same  carelessness  and 
inattention  that  the  Jews  forfeited  their  freedom,  and 
suffered  their  privileges  to  be  transferred  to  others.  By 
their  wilful  rejection  of  the  Messiah,  they  have  been 
excluded  from  the  Covenant  of  Grace — have  taken  the 
place  of  the  Sons  of  Slavery — have  been  cast  out  of  the 
vineyard  of  promise,  and  are  aliens  from  the  true  Israel 
of  God.' 

"'The  candidates  have  remarked,  I  doubt  not,'  Bro. 


S68         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

Tegart  observed,  'with  no  little  curiosity,  how  careful 
we  were  to  prevent  them  from  bringing  anything  offen- 
sive or  defensive  into  the  Lodge.  With  submission, 
R.  W.  Sir,  it  may  be  useful  to  explain  the  reasons  for  a 
caution  which  might  otherwise  be  considered  rude  and 
inexplicable.' 

"'You  are  aware,'  said  the  R.  W.  M.,  addressing  him- 
self to  the  newly-initiated  Brethren,  'that  in  the  earliest 
ages  of  the  world  there  was  a  peculiar  pollution  attached 
to  the  contamination  of  metal  tools.  T.  G.  A.  O.  T.  U., 
speaking  of  the  construction  of  an  Altar,  commands  it  to 
be  made  of  earth  or  rough  stones ;  observing  that  if  a 
metal  tool  were  used  in  its  fabrication,  it  would  be  pol- 
luted. In  like  manner  the  Temple  of  Solomon  was  built 
by  the  divine  direction,  without  the  noise  of  metallic 
tools ;  the  stones  being  hewn  in  the  quarry,  then  carved, 
marked,  and  numbered ;  the  timber  felled  in  the  forest 
of  Lebanon,  there  carved,  marked,  and  numbered  also. 
They  were  then  floated  down  to  Joppa,  and  from  thence 
conveyed  upon  wooden  carriages  to  Mount  Moriah  at 
Jerusalem,  and  there  set  up  with  wooden  mauls  made 
for  that  purpose;  so  that  there  was  not  heard  the  sound 
of  axe,  hammer,  or  metal  tool  throughout  the  whole 
building,  for  fear  the  Temple  should  be  polluted.' 

"'The  sense  of  this  is  plain,'  Bro.  the  Rev.  S.  Colman 
observed,  'and  the  excellence  of  the  Craft  thereby 
proved ;  for  though  the  stone  and  timbers  were  prepared 
at  so  great  a  distance,  yet  when  they  were  put  together, 
each  part  tallied  with  such  exact  nicety,  that  the  Temple 
appeared  to  be  constructed  of  a  single  stone.  From  this 
result  the  Jews,  and  some  Masons,  have  adopted  the 
fancy  that  they  were  not  cut  and  polished  by  any  instru- 
ment; but  that  a  worm,  called  Samir  by  the  Jews,  and 
Shermah  by  the  Masons,  accomplished  the  work  under 
the  Divine  direction,  and  that  they  were  fitted  into  their 
respective  places  on  Mount  Moriah  by  the  agency  of 
angels.  It  may,  however,  be  remarked,  that  the  trans- 
action was  an  emblem  of  the  peace  and  quietness  which 
ought  to  exist  in  the  Christian  Church,  where  all  things 
should  be  done  decently  and  in  order.  But,  R.  W.  Sir, 
the  most  important  point  that  it  will  be  necessary  to 
enlighten  our  young  Brethren  upon  is  the  peculiar  state 
in  which  they  made  their  first  appearance  in  the  Lodge, 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         269 

which  may  otherwise  be  the  cause  of  some  misappre- 
hension on  the  nature  and  occult  practices  of  the  Or- 
der.' 

"'Thank  you,  Bro.  Colman,  for  the  suggestion,'  said 
the  R.  W.  M.,  'which  I  had  nearly  overlooked.  You 
will  observe  then,  my  young  friends,  that  the  compli- 
cated preparation  for  the  ceremony  you  have  just  wit- 
nessed, is  intended  to  impress  upon  your  minds  how 
dependent  you  are  on  others  for  every  comfort,  as  well 
as  for  every  advantage  you  enjoy.  The  state  of  mutual 
subordination  in  which  God  has  placed  His  creatures 
ought  to  exclude  an  inordinate  regard  for  self,  and 
annihilate  its  influence,  by  a  desire  to  promote  the  happi- 
ness and  welfare  of  others.  Man  was  not  born  for  him- 
self alone,  but  to  contribute  his  quota  towards  the  gene- 
ral benefit  of  the  community.  '  When,  therefore,  you  see 
a  worthy  Brother  reduced,  by  unavoidable  misfortunes, 
to  a  state  of  distress — poor  and  penniless — if  you  be 
impressed  with  a  due  sense  of  your  responsibility  as 
Masons,  pity  will  flow  from  your  hearts,  attended  with 
that  relief  which  his  necessities  may  require,  and  your 
own  circumstances  will  admit.  But  you  are  never  ex- 
pected to  extend  your  charity  beyond  what  you  can  con- 
veniently afford.  And  after  all,  this  is  not  masonic 
charity,  but  relief,  and  there  is  a  wide  distinction  between 
the  two,  which  I  would  recommend  you  never  to  lose 
sight  of.' 

" '  Perhaps  you  would  favour  the  Lodge  with  your 
own  definition  of  masonic  charity,'  said  Bro.  James 
Deans.  'The  candidates  would  be  edified  by  the  recita], 
and  the  Brethren  cannot  hear  it  too  often.' 

" '  With  pleasure,  Bro.  Deans.  The  universal  charity 
of  a  Mason  is  like  the  charity  of  the  Mason's  God,  and 
his  God  is  the  God  of  love.  Within  the  Compass  of  his 
mind,  he  measures  and  draws  the  Square  of  his  conduct 
and  within  that  Square,  having  honestly  provided  for  his 
Own  household,  he  forms  his  little  angles  of  benevolence 
and  charity  to  the  distressed  of  all  communities.  Hf* 
visits  the  fatherless  and  the  widow,  not  out  of  idle  curi- 
osity, to  know  the  extremity  of  distress,  but,  from  the 
impulse  of  a  loving  heart,  to  cherish  and  to  relieve.  He 
searches  out  the  secret  and  concealed  cottages  of  distress; 
pours  the  balm,  arid  oil,  and  wine  of  consolation  into 
the  bosom  of  sorrow,  affliction,  and  miserv;  and  through 


270         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

the  influence  of  the  love  of  God  and  of  his  Brother,  he 
thus  keeps  himself  unspotted  from  the  evil  of  the  world. 
This  is  true  Masonry;  this  is  true  religion,  and  the  con- 
duct of  every  true  Mason.  Masonic  charity  is  the  charity 
of  the  heart;  he  thinks  no  evil  of  his  Brother;  he  cher- 
ishes no  designs  against  him.  It  is  charity  upon  the 
tongue  also;  he  speaks  no  evil;  bears  no  false  witness; 
defames  no  character;  blasts  no  reputation;  he  knows 
that  to  take  away  a  good  name  is  to  commit  an  evil,  the 
damage  of  which  no  wealth  can  repay — it  is  of  more 
value  than  great  riches — rubies  cannot  repurchase  it — 
the  gold  of  Ophir  cannot  gild  it  again  to  its  original 
beauty.  It  is  the  charity  of  the  hand  also ;  he  antici- 
pates his  Brother's  wants,  nor  forces  him"  to  the  pain  of 
petition ;  he  enters  the  house  of  woe,  and  there  finds  the 
mouth  he  ought  to  feed, -the  sickness  he  ought  to  cure, 
and,  perhaps,  also,  the  very  mind  he  ought  to  instruct 
before  it  can  be  fitted  for  an  eternal  world.  Thus  the 
heart,  the  tongue,  the  hand  of  the  really  Free  and  Ac- 
cepted Mason,  are  warmly  engaged  and  diligently  exer- 
cised in  all  those  grand  principles  of  the  Royal  Order 
which  render  it  in  its  nature  and  effects  so  much  like  the 
Order  of  that  amiable  band,  whose  love  to  each  other  so 
forcibly  convinced  their  adversaries  as  to  draw  from  them 
that  honourable  acclamation — "See  how  these  Christians 
love!'" 

"At  this  point,  one  of  the  candidates  said,  inquiringly, 
'But  the  secresy,  R.  W.  Sir:  I  am  anxious  to  hear  your 
reasons  for  it.' 

"  The  R.  W.  M.  replied,  '  My  dear  Brethren,  you  must 
not  be  too  eager  in  your  inquiries.  The  secret  of  Masonry, 
and  the  reasons  for  it,  will  be  communicated  in  due 
course.  You  are  at  present  only  on  the  threshold  of 
Masonry,  and  must  not  expect  to  attain  to  a  full  devel- 
opment of  our  mysteries  till  you  have  not  only  passed 
through  all  the  degrees,  but  have  employed  much  study 
*  arid  research  in  their  attainment.  At  present  you  have 
received  the  keys  of  our  treasure  in  the  signs,  words,  and 
tokens  of  the  First  Degree,  and  the  Lodge  is  now 
employed  in  giving  you  a  lesson  on  its  philosophy.  You 
must,  therefore,  at  present  be  contented  with  knowing 
that  you  are  bound  to  observe  the  strictest  secresy 
respecting  the  occult  points  of  the  masonic  science.  In 
the  ordinary  transactions  of  life,  as  in  Masonry,  an 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        271 

apprentice  is  bound  by  his  obligation  to  keep  his  master's 
secrets.  Before  your  admission  you  were  in  a  state  of 
darkness,  as  a  member  of  the  profane  world,  and  hence 
yon  are  to  learn  that  it  is  one  part  of  your  duty  to  keep 
all  mankind  in  the  darkness  of  ignorance  respecting  the 
secrets  of  Masonry,  unless  they  come  to  the  k-nowledge 
of  them  in  the  same  lawful  manner  that  you  have  done — 
i.  e.,  by  initiation;  for  it  is  a  necessary  preparation,  that 
the  heart  should  be  taught  to  conceal  before  the  eyes  are 
suffered  to  discover  any  valuable  and  recondite  informa- 
tion.' 

"  *  These  remarks  on  the  several  points  of  your  prepa- 
ration,' the  R.  W.  M.  continued,  'will,  I  have  no  doubt, 
satisfactorily  point  out  that  our  ceremonies  are  neither 
trifling  nor  unimportant,  but  have  a  moral  reference  to 
something  of  a  higher  and  more  dignified  character  than 
the  observances  themselves  would  appear  to  indicate. 
Do  you  think  it  improbable  that  simple  rites  should 
convey  a  complex  meaning,  or  that  they  cannot  be  signi- 
ficant because  they  are  not  complicated?  Why,  the 
distinguishing  peculiarity  of  the  masonic  ritual  is  the 
unsophisticated  character  of  its  construction.  It  is  very 
possible,  however,  that  you  may  have  formed  certain 
frivolous  conjectures  respecting  some  few  particulars 
connected  with  the  mode  of  your  preparation,  which 
may  not  square  with  your  preconceived  views  of  the 
probable  mode  of  your  reception;  but  I  trust  that  the 
explanations  you  have  heard  will  turn  the  channel  of 
your  ideas  into  a  more  favourable  construction  of  our 
plan.  I  am  anxious  that  you  should  not  quit  the  Lodge 
this  evening  without  a  competent  knowledge  of  the  ulti- 
mate reference  of  our  proceedings;  and  for  this  purpose, 
though  at  the  risk  of  being  accounted  tedious,  I  shall 
now  give  you  a  Lecture  on  our  Tressel  Board,  which, 
added  to  what  has  been  already  said,  will  convey  such  a 
meed  of  instruction  as  will  at  least  enable  you  to  reflect 
without  regret  on  the  scene  of  your  first  introduction 
into  a  Masonic  Lodge.' 

"The  Lecture  was  given  in  Bro.  Inwood's  best  style," 
said  the  Square;  "and  when  the  Lodge  was  closed,  the 
Brethren  returned  to  their  respective  homes,  delighted 
and  edified  with  the  instruction  they  had  received  from 
the  Chair." 


r 

CHAPTER   XV. 

LADY   MASONS. WILLIAM     MEYRICK,    JOSEPH    SHADBOLT 

1803—1810. 


-Freemasonry 


Is  like  the  Ladder  in  the  Patriarch's  dream, 

Its  foot  on  earth,  its  height  above  the  skies, 

Diffus'd  its  virtue,  boundless  is  its  pow'r ; 

'Tis  public  health,  and  universal  cure. 

Of  heavenly  manna  'tis  a  second  feast, 

A  nation's  food,  and  all  to  every  taste." — PRIOR. 

"Kepe  your  rule.  And  then  care  not  who  se  youre  rule,  who  rede 
your  rule,  who  knowe  your  rule.  Rede  it  your  selfe,  knowe  it  your 
selfe,  preche  it,  teche  it,  and  openly  shewe  it.  Be  nothyng  afrayd 
ue  daungerous  therof  so  ye  fyrst  kepe  it  and  werke  it." — RICHARDE 
WHYTFORDE.  (m.cccc.xv.j 

"  Masonry  is  one  of  the  most  sublime  and  perfect  institutions  that 
ever  was  formed  for  the  advancement  of  happiness  and  general  good 
to  mankind;  creating,  in  all  its  varieties,  universal  benevolence 'and 
Brotherly  love.  It  teaches  us  those  useful,  wise,  and  instructive 
doctrines  upon  which  alone  true  happiness  is  founded ;  and  at  the 
same  time  affords  those  easy  paths  by  which  to  attain  the  rewards  of 
virtue ;  it  teaches  us  the  duties  which  we  owe  to  our  neighbour ; 
never  to  injure  him  in  any  one  situation,  but  to  conduct  ourselves 
with  justice  and  impartiality ;  it  bids  us  not  to  divulge  the  mystery 
to  the  public,  and  it  orders  us  to  be  true  to  our  trust,  to  be  above  all 
meanness  and  dissimulation,  and  in  all  our  avocations  to  perform 
religiously  that  which  we  ought  to  do." — H.  R.  H.  THE  DUKE  OF 
SUSSEX. 

THE  Square,  being  a  primitive  implement,  exhibited 
at  the  building  of  Solomon's  Temple,  and  used  at  M 
much  earlier  period,  as  no  fine  piece  of  architecture 
could  be  completed  without  its  assistance, — my  com- 
panion and  instructor  occasionally  adduced  Old  World 
incidents  and  anecdotes  in  illustration  of  his  historiciil 
and  moral  maxims ;  and  he  now  broke  off  abruptly,  to 
edify  my  mind  by  a  simple  anecdote  of  ancient  times : — 
"When  Eudamidas,  the  Lacedemonian  general,"  he 
observed,  "  first  saw  Xenocrates,  the  philosopher,  with  a 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  273 

beard  as  white  as  snow,  reaching  below  his  girdle,  he 
inquired  of  a  friend  who  that  venerable  old  man  was. 
1A  ivisc  man?  was  the  reply,  '  seeking  after  truth.'1  The  next 
question  was,  '  When  does  he  calculate  on  reducing  it  to 
practice,  after  it  is  found,  if  he  be  still  employed  in  the 
search  ?' 

"  The  same  may  be  said  of  those  who  defer  the  study* 
of  Freemasonry  to  a  late  period  of  life — they  will  have 
little  time  left  to  enjoy  the  benefit  of  its  acquisition. 
Whoever  is  desirous  of  becoming  a  birght  and  active 
Mason,  let  him  take  advantage  of  the  spring  time  of  life, 
when  ardent  spirits  predominate,  and  joy,  and  love,  and 
hope  unite  to  animate  his  soul  to  active  enterprises,  and 
fill  it  with  genial  aspirations." 

After  he  had  applied  this  little  anecdote  to  his  satis- 
faction, the  Square  gave  a  triumphant  twirl,  and  then 
went  quietly  on. 

"Bro.  W.  Meyrick,"  he  said,  "  was-  elected  R.  W.  M. 
of  our  Lodge  on  St.  John's  day,  1S02,  and  proved  an 
active  and  zealous  Officer,  and  his  services  to  Masonry, 
uniformly  conceded  for  a  series  of  years,  elevated  him  at 
length  to  the  proud  distinction  of  Senior  Warden  in  the 
Lodge  of  Reconciliation  at  the  Union  between  the  two 
sections,  termed  ancient  and  modern  Masons,  and  Grand 
Registrar  in  the  United  Grand  Lodge  of  England,  after 
that  event  had  restored  perfect  harmony  to  the  English 
Craft. 

"I  was  much  pleased,"  the  Square  continued,  "at  his 
Installation  Banquet  or  annual  festival  of  the  Lodge, 
with  the  brief,  but  very  comprehensive  manner  in  which 
he  returned  thanks  for  the  handsome  reception  his  name 
met  with  from  the  assembled  Brethren,  when  his  health 
was  proposed  by  Bro.  Inwood,  the  Past  Master.  I  drew 
from  it  a  favourable  presentiment  of  what  his  govern- 
ment would  be. 

"  'Brethren,'  he  said,  <I  beg  leave  to  return  my  best 
thanks  for  this  additional  mark  of  your  esteem.  Some 
years  have  now  elapsed  since  I  enjoyed  the  gratification 
of  sitting  with  you  at  the  festive  board  of  Masonry. 
During  that  period,  prejudices  of  long  standing  have 
yielded  to  the  voice  of  truth.  Like  the  dense  vajjours 
which  darken  the  atmosphere,  and  obscure  the  face  of 
the  sun,  they  Jiave  been  broken  by  a  bright  ray  from  the 
glory  in  the  centre ;  they  float  before  the  reason  as  the 


274        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

light  and  impalpable  clouds  chequer  the  cloar  expanse 
of  heaven,  and  will  at  length  be  wholly  dissipated,  and 
leave  our  science  before  the  world's  eye,  clad  in  all  its 
glories  of  wisdom,  strength,  and  beauty.  Permit  me  to 
offer,  not  only  my  thanks,  but  my  best  and  most  heart- 
felt wishes.  As  men,  may  you  enjoy  every  happiness 
and  prosperity  this  world  can  afford ;  as  Christians,  may 
you  have  peace  in  this  world,  and  happiness  in  the  next ; 
as  Masons,  may  you  enjoy  the  intellectual  supremacy 
which  the  science  you  profess  is  so  well  calculated  to 
bestow;  may  your  Brethren  always  speak  as  well  of  you 
in  your  absence  as  in  your  presence;  may  no  slanderous 
tongues,  like  the  assassins  of  Tyre,  destroy  your  lair 
fame ;  may  no  cold-hearted  envy  efface  in  your  breasts 
the  excellent  and  invaluable  precepts  and  principles 
imparted  by  our  Lectures;  may  you  practice  morality 
and  justice  by  the  Square,  equality  by  the  Level,  and 
integrity  by  the  Plumb ;  like  the  Perfect  Ashlar,  may 
your  rnind  be  so  true  in  all  its  feelings  and  propensities, 
as  to  be  able  to  undergo  the  ordeal  of  the  Square  of  God's 
word,  and  the  Compass  of  your  own  conscience ;  that  when 
death,  the  Grand  Leveller  of  all  human  greatness,  shall 
have  drawn  his  sable  curtain  round  your  bed,  you  may 
receive  possession  of  an  immortal  inheritance  in  those 
heavenly  mansions  veiled  from  mortal  eye  by  the  starry 
firmament, 'and  be  admitted  by  the  Grand  Master  of  the 
whole  universe  into  His  celestial  Lodge,  where  peace, 
order,  and  harmony  shall  eternally  reign.' 

"  During  this  period,"  the  Square  continued,  "  the 
true  friends  of  masonic  literature  were  neither  few  noi 
idle ;  and  the  beginning  of  the  century  was  marked  by 
several  published  Addresses  and  Sermons.  The  names 
of  Samuel  Oliver,1  Killick,  and  Bryan,2  Dr.  Orme,3 

1  44A  masonic  Sermon,  preached  in  St.  John's  Church,  Peter- 
borough, July  26th,  1802;  being  the  day  appointed  for  the  Consecra- 
tion of  the  Lodge  of  St.  Peter  within  that  city.  By  the  Rev.  S.  Oliver, 
Chaplain  of  the  sume  Lodge,  Member  of  the  Union  Lodge,  Notting- 
ham, and  Honorary  Member  of  the  Scientific  Lodge,  Cambridge. 
Cambridge,  Nicholson,  1803." 

52  "  Two  masonic  Addresses  delivered  in  the  Lodge  of  Freedom, 
Grayesend,  Dec.  27,  1803 ;  being  the  Anniversary  of  the  Festival  of 
St.  John  the  Evangelist.  By  Brothers  Killick  and  Bryan.  London, 
Asperue,  1804." 

3  "A  Sermon  preached  in  the  Church  of  Louth,  at  a  Provincial 
Grand  Meeting  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  Aug.  13th,  1804.  By 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        275 

Stephen  Jones,4  and  Hyppolita  Da  Costa,5  were  familiar 
to  the  London  Craft,  and  their  several  productions  were 
read  to  the  Brethren  as  Lectures. 

"  Meantime  our  Lodge  continued  to  prosper  under  the 
Mastership  of  Bro.  Meyrick ;  and  well  it  might,  as  you 
may  judge  from  the  part  he  took  in  an  interesting  con- 
versation which  occurred  at  a  meeting  when  the  Lodge 
was  remarkably  well  attended,  and  in  which  his  know- 
ledge of  the  tendency  of  genuine  Masonry  became  appa- 
rent to  his  hearers. 

"  He  had  been  explaining  the  supporting  pillars  of  the 
Lodge,  in  connection  with  the  three  rounds  of  the 
masonic  Ladder,  and  concluded  by  saying — *  The  great 
and  distinguishing  principle  on  which  Freemasonry  is 
founded,  as  you  all  know,  is  Brotherly  Love — a  principle 
which  was  equally  unknown  both  to  Jews  and  heathens, 
either  in  youth  or  age.  Many  of  the  latter  spent  their 
whole  lives  in  search  of  virtue,  but  without  success,  for 
they  failed  to  discover  the  chief  of  all  virtues — charity 
and  love  towards  each  other.' 

"  When  the  R.  W.  M.  had  concluded  his  Lecture,  Bro. 
Shadbolt  rose  and  said — '  R.  W.  Sir,  it  strikes  me  that 
the  sole  reason  why  heathen  nations  did  not  practise  the 
pre-eminent  virtue  of  Brotherly  Love,  was,  because  they 
did  not  understand  it.  Arid  hence  when  it  was  first 
brought  practically  under  their  notice  by  the  early 
Christians,  they  expressed  their  surprise  by  asking  one 
another  whether  they  were  acquainted  with  the  myste- 
rious link  which  cemented  the  Christians  together,  or  the 
process  by  which  they  arrived  at  that  display  of  mutual 

the  Rev.  Thomas  Ormie,  D.D.,  F.S.A.,  Prov.  Grand  Chaplain  for  the 
county  of  Lincoln.  Louth,  Sheardown,  1804." 

4  "  A  Vindication  of  Masonry."  "  Cursory  Thoughts  on  the  Ma- 
sonic Institution  ;  being  part  of  a  Letter  addressed  to  the  Author  of 
the  Illustrations  of  Masonry."     "  A  Friendly  Remonstrance  to  a  skil- 
ful but  over-zealous  Mason."     "A  short  Hint  to  the  Fraternity  at 
large."     With  many  other  orations  and  addresses  by  various  Breth- 
ren.    "  Masonic  Miscellanies  in  poetry  and  prose.  In  three  parts. 
1.  The  Muso  of  Masonry,  comprising  nearly  two  hundred  masonic 
Songs,  adapted  to  familiar  tunes.   2.  The  Masonic  Essayist.    3.  The 
Freemason's  Vade  Mecum."   By  Stephen  Jones,  P.M.  of  the  Lodge 
of  Antiquity.    London,  1797.    Second  Edition,  1811. 

5  **  Narrative  of  his  Persecution  in  Lisbon  by  the  Inquisition,  for 
the  pretended  crime  of  Freemasonry.    By  M.  Hyppolita  Joseph  da 
Costa,  Representative  of  the  Portuguese  Lodges  in  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  England.    2  vols.,  8vo.    London,  Sherwood,  1811." 


276      THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

love  and  charity  which  distinguished  them  from  all 
people  amongst  whom  they  lived  ?  And  when  the  Empe- 
ror Decius  commanded  them  to  produce  their  treasures, 
they  brought  the  lame,  the  blind,  the  diseased,  the  widows 
and  fatherless  children  that  were  supported  at  the  com- 
mon expense  of  the  Church,  and  said,  These  are  our 
treasures ;  they  are  the  only  wealth  which  Christ 
bequeathed  to  His  followers.  The  same  may  be  said  oi 
Freemasonry,  when  practised  in  accordance  with  the 
doctrines  enunciated  in  its  Lectures.' 

"  'But  if  this  view  of  the  matter  be  correct,'  Bro. 
Tegart  observed,  *  how  are  we  to  account  for  the  in- 
stances that  did  actually  occur,  of  such  disinterested 
affection,  both  amongst  Jews  and  heathens,  as  undoubt- 
edly existed  between  David  and  Jonathan,  Nysus  and 
Euryalus,  Damon  and  Pythias,  and  others  in  the  same 
category  ?' 

"  '  The  solitary  exceptions,'  replied  Bro.  Meyrick, '  serve 
to  make  the  rule  more  evident.  Exceptio  probat  rcgulum. 
They  did  not  occur  once  in  a  century  ;  and  in  every 
recorded  instance,  the  sentiment  was  not  practised  as  a 
principle,  but  as  a  passion,  seldom  witnessed,  little  under- 
stood, and  barren  of  fruits  to  the  rest  of  mankind.' 

"  '  True,'  said  Bro.  Inwood ;  '  and  this  very  obser- 
vation places  the  system  of  Freemasonry  in  a  new  and 
beautiful  point  of  view.  That  Sacred  Volume  which  con- 
secrates the  Master's  pedestal,  and  enlightens  and  sanc- 
tifies our  proceedings,  has  its  corresponding  doctrines 
embodied  in  the  Lectures.' 

"  *  Otherwise,'  the  R.  W.  M.  interposed,  *  the  Lectures 
would  be  inanimate,  vapid,  and  useless.  Our  frequent 
appeals  to  the  Grand  Architect  for  favour  and  protection, 
display  our  firm  belief  in  the  Most  High,  whilst  the  first 
and  third  steps  of  the  winding  staircase  are  referred  to 
the  Trinity  in  Unity,  both  displaying  our  renunciation  of 
the  cold  and  repulsive  principles  of  deism,  which  are 
clearly  denounced  in  the  Ancient  Charges.'6 

c  In  which  it  is  distinctly  provided  that  "a  Mason  is  obliged  by 
his  tenure  to  believe  firmly  jn  the  true  worship  of  the  eternal  God,  as 
well  as  in  all  those  sacred  records  which  the  dignitaries  and  fathers 
of  the  Church  have  compiled  and  published  for  the  use  of  good  men ; 
so  that  no  one,  who  rightly  understands  the  rite,  can  pc*sibly  tread 
in  the  irreligious  path  of  the  unhappy  libertine,  or  be  induced  to 
follow  the  arrogant  professors  of  atheism  or  deism ;  neither  is  he  to 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  277 

"  '  And  an  evidence  of  the  same  truth,'  said  Bro.  Hem- 
ming, '  is  afforded  in  a  series  of  tests  that  were  used  by 
the  four  old  Lodges  before  the  revival  in  1717  ;  a  portion 
of  which  ran  in  this  form  : — 'How  many  precious  jewels 
has  a  Mason?  Three;  a  square  Ashlar,  a  diamond,  and 
a  square. — How  many  lights?  Three ;  a  right  east,  south, 
and  west.  What  do  they  represent?  Three  divine  per- 
sons ;  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost.— How  many  pillars? 
Two;  Jachin  and  Boaz. — What  do  they  represent ?  The 
Strength  and  Stability  of  the  Church  in  all  ages. — How 
many  angles  in  St.  John's  Lodge?  Four,  bordering  on 
squares,  or  a  perfect  cross.' 

"  'And  yet,'  Bro.  In  wood  responded,  'strange  to  say, 
notwithstanding  these  distinct  and  unequivocal  avowals, 
our  opponents  appear  determined  to  make  our  Lodges  so 
many  nests  to  mature  and  disseminate  the  filthy  dogmata 
of  infidelity.  Our  protestations  to  the  contrary  they 
affect  to  disbelieve,  in  order  that  they  may  have  the  gra- 
tification of  keeping  up  a  kind  of  guerrilla  war  against  us  ; 
for  if  they  were  deprived  of  that  hackneyed  objection, 
which  has  been  refuted  a  thousand  times  over,  they 
would  have  no  excuse  for  the  discharge  of  their  splenetic 
diatribes  against  the  Order.' 

"  '  The  above  representation,'  said  the  R.  W.  M., '  shows 
their  utter  disregard  of  the  plainest  facts.  It  is  well 
known  that  our  rituals  eschew  every  system  of  unbelief 
and  false  worship  which  are  forbidden  in  the  former  por- 
tion of  the  Decalogue.  The  first  lesson  that  a  candidate 
receives  at  his  initiation,  teaches  him  never  to  pronounce 
the  sacred  name  of  God  but  with  that  reverential  awe 
which  becomes  a  creature  to  bear  to  his  Creator ;  to  look 
upon  him  as  the  Summum  Bonum  which  we  came  into 
the  world  to  enjoy,  and  to  regulate  all  our  pursuits 
according  to  that  unerring  principle.  To  act  upon  the 
square  with  our  neighbours,  by  doing  as  we  would  be 
done  by;  and  by  avoiding  all  intemperance  and  excess, 

be  stained  by  the  gross  errors  of  blind  superstition,  but  may  have  the 
liberty  of  embracing  what  faith  he  should  think  proper,  provided  at 
all  times  he  pays  a  due  reverence  to  the  Creator,  and  deals  with 
honour  and  honesty  towards  his  fellow-creatures ;  ever  making  that 
golden  precept  of  Christianity  the  standing  rule  of  his  actions,  which 
engages  him  to  do  unto  all  men  as  he  would  have  them  do  to  him.'" 
—See  the  Ahimau  llezon,  Ed.  1813,  p.  18. 


278         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

whereby  we  ourselves  may  be  rendered  incapable  of 
following  our  work,  or  be  led  into  any  behaviour  which 
is  unbecoming  to  our  laudable  profession.' 

"  *  This  recommendation,'  the  R.  W.  M.  continued, 
'which  is  taken  vcrhat'un,  from  the  Lectures,  forbids  a 
breach  of  the  third  commandment.  And  the  following 
examination  questions  equally  evince  our  punctual  observ- 
ance of  the  fourth. — 'Have  you  ever  worked  as  a 
Mason?  Where?  How  long?'  *  Six  days  in  the  week.' — 
'  And  why  not  on  the  seventh?'  *  Because  the  Almighty 
lias  strictly  commanded  that  day  to  be  kept  holy.' — Nor 
has  the  latter  portion  of  the  Decalogue  been  overlooked 
in  the  construction  of  our  very  comprehensive  system. 
The  duty  of  children  to  their  parents  is  taught  by  the 
Lewis.  We  are*  warned  of  the  evil  consequences  and  sin 
of  murder  by  the  remorse  and  punishment  of  certain 
Tyrian  assassins,  when  the  Temple  at  Jerusalem  was 
completed ;  of  adultery,  by  the  O.  B.  of  a  M.  11. ;  of 
covetousness  and  theft,  by  the  four  original  Signs;  of 
slander  and  false  witness,  by  the  Key;  and  of  interfering 
with  the  property  of  others  by  the  Moveable  Jewels.' 

"  '  But,  notwithstanding  the  purity  of  these  doctrines,' 
said  Bro.  M'Gillivray,  *  which  can  neither  be  denied  nor 
controverted,  and  their  undoubted  efficacy  in  promoting 
the  practice  of  virtue  and  morality,  it  is  to  be  lamented 
that  they  have  not  been  of  sufficient  efficacy  to  prevent 
the  sacred  floor  of  the  Lodge  from  being  occasionally 
polluted  by  unworthy  men.' 

"*And.  for  this  cogent  reason,'  the  R.  W.  M.  re- 
plied, *  while  such  men  outwardly  comply  with  the 
letter  of  the  Constitutions,  we  cannot  pronounce  sentence 
of  expulsion  against  them  ;  nor  can  they  be  subjected  to 
censure  without  the  clearest  proof  of  some  wilful  viola- 
tion of  masonic  law,  Philip  of  Macedon,  it  is  true, 
having  two  subjects  whom  he  suspected  of  treason, 
ordered  one  of  them,  without  any  proof,  to  leave  the 
country,  and  the  other  to  follow  him ;  but  we  have  no 
law  which  decrees  expulsion  from  a  Lodge,  without  ample 
evidence  of  some  determinate  offence.' 

" '  This  truth  is  illustrated,'  Bro.  Stephen  Jones 
observed,  4  in  the  conduct  of  the  impostor  Cagliostro, 
who  conducted  his  masonic  innovations  with  so  much 
tact  and  judgment,  as  to  steer  clear  of  the  laws  then  in 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        279 

force  on  the  continent  of  Europe;  for  they  were  not 
sufficiently  stringent  to  prevent  the  encroachments  of 
designing  empirics,  and  hence  such  characters  became 
numerous  and  successful,  both  in  France  and  Germany, 
and  by  their  mercenary  dealings  brought  great  discredit 
on  the  Order. 

'"The  true  principles  on  which  Masons  ought  to 
govern  their  life  and  conduct,'  the  R.  W.  M.  observed, 
4  are  very  simple,  and  plainly  chalked  out  in  the  FIRST 
GREAT  LIGHT,  which,  being  the  Tracing  Board  of  the 
Most  High,  presents  a  perfect  idea  of  the  excellent  plans 
and  moral  designs  by  which  our  commerce  with  the 
world  oug^t  to  be  regulated.  Indeed,  when  we  look  at 
Freemasonry,  and  consider  its  antiquity,  its  usefulness, 
its  vast  aggregate  of  simple  piety  and  unostentatious 
benevolence,  its  countless  host  of  enthusiastic  champions, 
its  unburderisome  support,  its  innumerable  charitable 
institutions,  we  ought  cordially  to  unite  in  the  preserva- 
tion of  such  a  beneficent  Order  from  the  attacks  of 
envious  Cowans,  when,  like  the  wild  boar  out  of  the 
woods,  they  would  break  down  its  fences,  and  destroy  its 
fruits.' 

" '  The  SECOND  GREAT  LIGHT  of  Masonry,'  the  R.  W. 
M.  continued,  'is  the  Master's  Jewel,' — exhibiting  me," 
said  the  Square — "  'and  hence  our  ancient  Grand  Master, 
King  Solomon,  has  left  it  on  record,  that  the  lips  of 
knowledge  are  a  precious  Jewel.7  And  as  its  operative 
use  is  to  bring  rude  matter  into  due  form,  so  it  is  appro- 
priated to  the  chief  Officer  and  Ruler  of  the  Lodge,  as 
an  allegorical  emblem,  suggestive  of  his  numerous  and 
paramount  duties,  and  to  indicate,  that  to  preserve  har- 
mony among  the  Brethren,  his  chief  care  should  be  to 
suppress  promptly  and  firmly,  by  the  certain  process 
of  morality  arid  justice,  every  attempt  at  insubordination, 
and  to  cause  all  animosities  to  cease,  should  any  unfortu- 
nately exist,  that  order  and  good-fellowship  may  be 
perfect  and  complete.' 

"''And  R.  W.  Sir,'  Bro.  Inwood  added,  'every  consci- 
entious Master,  who  consults  his  own  credit  equally  with 
the  reputation  and  stability  of  his  Lodge,  will  emulate 
the  qualities  which  are  symbolized  by  the  Square ;  and, 

7Prov.  xx.,  15. 
13 


280        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

when  judiciously  exercised,  they  will  add  dignity  to  thd 
office,  and  convey  an  influence  which  cannot  fail  to  pro- 
duce a  salutary  effect  on  the  community  under  his  juris- 
diction, and  elevate  the  Order  to  its  proper  rank  in  the 
opinion  of  mankind.' 

"'Nor  ought  the  THIRD  GREAT  LIGHT  to  be  overlook- 
ed,' said  Bro.  Hemming,  'for  without  its  assistance  the 
expert  architect  could  not  complete  his  magnificent 
designs,  or  bring  his  plans  to  perfection.  And  hence  it 
constitutes  in  Speculative  Masonry  the  appropriate  badge 
of  the  Grand  Master,  because  the  government  of  the 
entire  Order  is  committed  to  his  charge,  and  he  is 
required,  not  only  to  be  true  and  faithful,  but,  jp  the  exer- 
cise of  his  office,  to  adopt  such  judicious  plans  and 
designs  as  may  gradually  and  effectually  advance  its  pri- 
vate interests  and  public  popularity,  and  contribute  to 
the  general  benefit  of  its  Members,  both  in  and  out  of 
the  Lodge.' 

"  *  This  significant  symbol,'  Bro.  Shadbolt  observed, 
'possesses,  as  I  am  inclined  to  think,  a  further  and  still 
more  important  reference.  It  should  suggest  to  the 
Grand  Master  a  due  caution  not  to  be  biassed  or  led 
astray,  by  the  advice  of  interested  or  injudicious  friends, 
from  that  cause  which  his  judgment  pronounces  to  be 
the  best  adapted  to  promote  the  universal  prosperity  of 
the  Craft ;  for  not  only  in  Masonry,  but  in  every  other 
institution,  whether  scientific  or  political,  many  council- 
lors will  arise,  wThose  deliberations,  like  those  of  Achito- 
phel,  are  influenced  more  by  a  regard  to  their  own  per- 
sonal interests  than  the  benefit  of  the  Society  wrhich 
they  profess  to  entertain  an  anxious  desire  to  improve. 
In  the  words  of  Dry  den,  slightly  altered, — 

4  To  further  this  the  charlatan  enlists 
The  malcontents  of  all  the  separatists, 
Whose  differing  parties  he  could  wisely  join, 
For  several  ends  to  serve  the  same  design, 
He  heads  the  faction  while  their  zeal  is  hot, 
And  popularly  prosecutes  the  plot.' 

"  '  The  Theological  Virtues,'  said  Bro.  Deans,  *  which 
you,  R.  W.  Sir,  have  so  ably  illustrated,  and  are  so  high- 
ly esteemed  among  Masons  as  to  assume  a  prominent 
situation  amongst  our  symbols,  will  admit,  I  venture  to 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        281 

suggest,  of  a  more  extended  illustration  than  is  assigned 
to  them  in  our  Lectures;  and  I  am  sure  the  Brethren 
present  would  be  gratified  to  hear  your  sentiments  on 
that  interesting  subject.' 

"The  R.  W.  M.  being  thus  appealed  to,"  said  the 
Square,  "  replied  without  hesitation,  '  That  their  refer- 
ence might  be  safely  extended  to  other  topics  of  the 
utmost  consequence  to  the  best  interests  of  man  on  this 
side  the  grave,  as  preparatory  to  a  more  perfect  state  of 
existence  in  another  and  a  better  world.  They  may  be 
likened  to  the  Three  Pillars  of  the  Lodge,  which  point 
out  the  three  ages  of  man,  and  the  three  prismatic  co- 
lours, blue,  purple,  and  crimson.  The  initiatory  rite  of 
baptism  amongst  Christians,  and  admission  into  the 
Lodge  amongst  ourselves,  are  symbolized  by  the  White, 
as  the  representative  of  external  purity,  and  internal 
truth,  embodied  in  the  Apron  of  lambskin — that  animal 
being  the  personification  of  innocence.  Blue,  the  colour 
of  Faith,  represents  the  First  Degree,  because  it  is  an 
emblem  of  Creation,  the  first  work  of  T.  G.  A.  O.  T.  U., 
and  hence,  in  the  cosmogonies  of  all  nations,  the  Creator 
is  painted  blue,  in  reference  to  his  perfect  wisdom.' 

"'  Purple,  the  colour  of  Hope,'  continued  Bro.  Mey- 
rick,  'denotes  the  Second  Degree,  as  well  as  the  second 
stage  of  life,  and  the  Pillar  of  Strength.  It  was  royal, 
and  formed  the  usual  clothing  of  kings  and  princes. 
Thus,  Xenophon  says  in  the  "  Cyropaedia,"  that  his  roy- 
al hero  was  clad  in  a  vest  of  a  purple  colour,  half  mixed 
with  white.  His  outer  robe  was  wholly  of  purple,  and 
on  his  legs  he  had  yellow  buskins.  This  description 
naturally  reminds  us  of  the  yellow  jacket  and  blue 
breeches  of  our  ancient  Brethren.  Purple  was  adopted 
as  the  colour  of  a  Fellowcraft,  which  was  the  highest 
degree  acquired  by  the  Fraternity  in  ancient  times,  and 
even  qualified  a  Brother  for  the  office  of  Grand  Master. 
It  also  referred  to  the  middle  stage  of  life,  through 
which  every  one  passess  in  his  progress  from  infancy  to 
old  age,  or  from  birth  to  death.  This  colour  was  placed 
on  tombs  in  Christian  symbolism,  to  illustrate  the  solemn 
doctrine — "In  the  midst  of  life,  we  are  in  death."' 

" '  Charity  was  represented  by  the  Crimson  or  Rose, 
which  is  the  colour  of  beauty,  and  belonged  to  the  clo- 
sing stage  of  human  life,  and  the  Third  Degree  of 


282         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

Masonry.  In  the  spurious  Freemasonry  of  Greece  and 
Rome,  the  rose  was  a  symbol  of  death  and  resurrection, 
which  were  imitated  in  the  ceremonies  of  initiation. 
And  it  was  used  by  our  Fraternity  for  much  the  same 
reason.  An  unfailing  Charity  is  the  ever-burning  fire  of 
the  heart ;  and  Freemasonry  enlightens  the  mind  of  the 
candidate,  by  opening  it  to  the  influence  of  divine  love, 
and  instilling  that  degree  of  purity,  which  is  the  chiei 
end  of  masonic  regeneration.' 

"'This  combination,'  the  R.  W.  M.  concluded,  *  of  the 
Three  Degrees  of  Masonry,  the  Three  Colours  and  Pil- 
lars of  the  Lodge,  with  the  Three  Ages  of  Man,  will 
fairly  place  the  Free  and  Accepted  Mason,  through  the 
medium  of  Faith,  Hope,  and  Charity,  on  his  way  to 
those  celestial  mansions  which  are  veiled  from  mortal  eye 
by  a  canopy  of  clouds ;  and  if  he  shall  continue  in  this 
eifectual  walk  of  Faith,  he  has  a  promise  of  shining  like 
the  stars  for  ever  and  ever.' 

" ' I  should  rather  have  been  inclined  to  transpose 
these  remarkable  coincidences,'  said  Bro.  Inwood,  *  and 
make  the  infant  to  represent  Beauty,  the  man  Strength, 
and  old  age  Wisdom.' 

"'I  had  some  conversation  a  short  time  ago,'  said  Bro. 
M'Gillivray,  'with  a  Hebrew  Mason,  who  had  been  on 
the  continent ;  and  he  informed  me  that  his  Brethren 
there  reject  and  totally  repudiate  our  application  of  Faith, 
Hope,  and  Charity,  to  Freemasonry,  because  they  are 
the  peculiar  virtues  of  Christianity,  and  belong  to  no 
other  system  of  religion  that  ever  existed  on  the  face  ot 
the  earth.  The  staves  or  rounds  of  the  Ladder,  which 
we  term  innumerable,  they  limit  to  seventy-two.  These, 
they  say,  refer  to  so  many  branches  of  science,  over 
which  JEHOVAH  presides,  because  they  all  derive  their 
essence  from  the  Divine  power.  But  they  subjoin  no 
account  of  its  origin  or  symbolical  use,  and  simply  say 
that  it  is  called  by  the  allegorical  cabalists  PEchelle  de 
Jacob.' 

"'The  argument  is  evidently  delusive,'  replied  Bro. 
Hemming;  'because,  if  that  be  the  name  which  they 
assign  to  it,  their  explanation  falls  to  the  ground ;  for  it 
cannot,  in  that  case,  have  any  other  reference  than  to  the 
Theological  Ladder  of  our  system  of  Freemasonry,  which 
has  the  Holy  Bible  for  its  basis,  Faith,  Hope,  and  Charity 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         283 

for  its  supporters,  Jehovah  for  its  president,  and  Heaven 
for  its  end.' 

"'The  true  masonic  philosopher,'  said  the  K.  W.  M., 
*  sees  in  all  things  an  ever-present  Deity,  as  the  Governor 
and  Director  of  those  magnificent  works  which  proceeded 
from  His  hand,  all  guided  by  the  celestial  dictates  of 
these  Theological  virtues.  If  the  trees  of  the  field  bud 
and  blossom  under  the  influence  of  a  genial  sun — if  the 
teeming  earth  is  irrigated  with  gentle  showers — if 

4  Fleecy  flocks  the  hills  adorn, 
And  valleys  smile  with  wavy  corn ;' 

it  is  the  blessed  ordinance  of  a  benignant  Divinity.  If 
the  great  ruler  of  the  day  rise  in  the  morning  to  call  the 
inhabitants  of  the  earth  from  their  slumbers,  and  com- 
mence their  labours — if  the  ruler  of  the  night  move  ma- 
jestically through  the  heavens,  partially  enlightening  the 
darkness  with  her  silver  light,  and  dividing  the  year  into 
twelve  equal  portions  for  the  convenience  of  man ; — if 
the  stars  and  planets  with  which  the  firmament  is  studded, 
like  an  azure  canopy  charged  with  sparkling  knobs  of 
burnished  gold,  pursue  their  accustomed  courses  century 
after  century  without  the  slightest  deviation — it  is  to 
display  the  power  and  goodness  of  the  Great  Architect, 
and  His  provident  care  in  making  all  the  works  of  the 
creation  subservient  to  one  object — the  comfort  and 
happiness  of  His  creatures.  And  we  ought  reverentially 
to  bow  the  knee,  and  exclaim  with  our  Ancient  Grand 
Master,  "Lord,  what  is  man  that  thou  art  mindful  of  him, 
or  the  son  of  man  that  thou  visitest  him?": 

"'Excellent!'  said  Bro.  Tegart;  'this  is  the  true  poe- 
try of  Freemasonry,  and  an  able  illustration  of  the  ordi- 
nary labours  of  a  well-conditioned  Lodge.' 

'"But  this  is  not  all,'  said  Bro.  Inwood.  'The  K.  W. 
M.  will  tell  you  that  our  labours  and  investigations 
extend  also  to  many  sublime  branches  of  science  and 
philosophy,  human  and  divine,  which  admit  of  ample 
discussion  under  the  care  of  a  judicious  and  talented 
Master,  when  performing  the  paramount  duty  of  his  high 
station — the  instruction  and  improvement  of  the  Brethren 
in  Masonry.' 

"  '  It  is  quite  true,'  Bro.  Hemming  observed ;  'and  in 
the  absence  of  such  researches,  Freemasonry  will  be  but 


584         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

a  name  without  a  substance,  and  will  fail  to  convey  any 
peculiar  benefits.  Without  a  proper  attention  to  its 
poetry  and  philosophy,  the  Lodge  would  sink  to  the  level 
of  an  ordinary  cluo-room,  and  the  Brethren  into  mere 
members  of  a  convivial  society.  And  it  may  be  for  this 
reason  that  so  many  of  the  Fraternity  appear  to  entertain 
an  indifferent  opinion  of  the  Order,  because  their  atten- 
tion has  not  been  drawn  to  these  prominent  beauties 
which  are  applicable  to  the  best  interests  of  man, 
whether  in  this  world,  or  in  that  which  is  to  corne.' 

"During  the  course  of  this  discussion,"  the  Square 
parenthetically  observed,  "  Brothers  Shelton  and  Marshall 
frequently  cast  a  significant  look  at  each  other,  in  which 
weariness  and  dissatisfaction  were  combined;  but  they 
wisely  held  their  peace. 

" '  The  Free  and  Accepted  Mason,'  replied  the  R.W.M., 
*  who  is  really  desirous  of  deriving  benefit  from  the  prac- 
tice of  Masonry,  will  never  entertain  any  doubts  respecting 
the  intrinsic  excellency  of  the  lessons  he  receives  in  open 
Lodge,  because  doubt  leads  to  despair,  and  despair  to  re- 
nunciation. Let  him  take  a  lesson  from  honest  John 
Bunyan,  who  very  judiciously  makes  the  giant  Despair 
the  occupant  of  Doubting  Castle,  in  which  the  pilgrims 
atoned  for  their  doubts  by  imprisonment  in  one  of  its 
deepest  dungeons.  Hope,  however,  revived,  and  they 
opened  the  gates  of  the  dreary  cell  with  the  Key  of 
promise.' 

" '  The  most  effectual  safeguard,'  Bro.  Inwood  observed, 
'against  the  encroachments  of  doubt,  is  prayer,  which 
constitutes  an  essential  element  in  the  system  of  Free- 
masonry. Our  Lodges  are  opened  and  closed  with  prayer; 
and  the  same  holy  exercise  accompanies  the  ceremonies 
of  every  degree.  And  if  the  Mason  hopes  to  attain  the 
summit  of  the  Ladder  which  terminates  in  the  Cloudy 
Canopy,  it  must  be  by  the  prayer  of  Faith  and  Hope, 
and  the  exercise  of  Charity ;  for  these  are  the  only  steps 
by  which  he  can  have  access  to  the  glories  that  lie  be- 
yond it,  and  lead  to  the  regions  of  everlasting  Light.' 

"'And  yet,'  said  Bro.  Hemming,  'some  of  our  adver- 
saries contend  that  the  Society  is  anti-Christian.  But  to 
mark  more  strongly  the  utter  absurdity  of  the  imputa- 
tion, another  class  of  opponents,  with  Professor  Buhle 
at  their  head,  assert  that  we  exclude  anti-Christians  from 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         285 

our  assemblies !  His  words,  as  we  learn  from  a  paper, 
read  only  last  year  before  the  Philosophical  Society  of 
Gottingen,  are,  *  Women,  children,  those  who  are  not  in  full 
possession  of  civil  freedom,  Jews,  anti- Christians,  and  Roman 
Catholics,  are  excluded  from  the  Society  of  Freemasons? 

'"So  conflicting  and  unscrupulous,'  the  R.  W.  M.  re- 
plied, '  are  the  assertions  of  all  who  decry  Masonry, 
without  understanding  either  what  they  say,  or  whereof 
they  affirm.  Freemasonry,  however,  furnishes  a  series  of 
rules  by  which  every  true-hearted  Brother  may  easily 
surmount  the  difficulties  which  impede  his  progress  in 
the  pursuit  of  knowledge.  And  if  he  adheres,  amidst 
evil  report  and  good  report,  to  the  precepts  which  are 
promulgated  from  the  Master's  Chair,  and  applies  them 
steadily  to  his  masonic  and  Christian  duties,  he  will  be 
at  no  loss  to  steer  his  course,  be  the  vituperations  of  the 
Antimason  ever  so  loud,  or  the  conjectures  of  the  cowan 
ever  so  absurd;  and  with  the  promised  land  in  view,  he 
will  go  on  his  way,  rejoicing  in  the  hope  of  attaining  to 
its  never-fading  glories.' 

"In  the  year  1808,"  the  Square  continued,  "  viz.,  on 
St.  John's  day,  Bro.  Shadbolt  was  installed  into  the 
Chair,  and  proved  worthy  of  the  honour  conferred  upon 
him.  I  remember  an  amusing  conversation  which  took 
place  in  the  Lodge  on  the  subject  of  female  Freemasonry, 
during  his  year  of  office,  which  may  be  interesting  to 
you. 

"In  order  to  make  it  intelligible,  you  will  observe  that 
the  Lodges  of  Adoption  on  the  continent  of  Europe, 
which  admitted  females  to  share  in  the  celebrations,  re- 
sumed their  meetings  after  the  excitement  occasioned  by 
the  French  Revolution  had  subsided.  On  a  notice  to 
that  effect  •  issued  by  authority,  the  Members  assembled 
in  full  force,  the  badges  were  furbished  up  or  renewed 
with  great  alacrity,  and  the  initiations  were  numerous. 
A  Grand  Festival  of  the  Order  was  celebrated  in  Stras- 
burg,  over  which  the  Empress  Josephine  presided;  and 
another  in  Paris,  under  the  presidency  of  the  Duchesse 
de  Vaudemont,  which  were  attended  by  many  of  the  chief 
nobility  of  France,  both  male  and  female. 

"  On  the  evening  to  which  I  have  referred,"  said  rny 
entertaining  instructor,  "a  visitor  was  introduced  by  Bro. 
M'Gillivray,  who  had  been  residing  some  time  at  Paris. 


286         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

He  informed  us  that  he  had  attended  several  meetings  of 
the  Adoptive  Masonry,  and  found  them  conducted  with 
remarkable  order  and  propriety. 

"The  R.  W.  M.  asked  him  if  he  had  witnessed  an 
initiation? 

"  He  replied,  that  he  had  enjoyed  the  good  fortune  of 
being  present  when  each  of  the  Five  Degrees  was  con- 
ferred. 

"'Do  you  recollect  the  names  of  the  Degrees?'  Bro. 
M'Gillivray  inquired. 

"'Perfectly.  They  are,  1.  Apprentie.  2.  Compag- 
none.  3.  Maitresse.  4.  Parfait.  5.  Elue.  Under  this 
arrangement,  the  Jewel  of  the  Order  is  a  Golden  Ladder, 
with  five  rounds  or  staves.  Originally,  however,  the 
Androgyne  Lodges  had  only  Four  Degrees,  which  were 
denominated  PApprentissage,  la  Compagnonnage,  la  Mai- 
trise,  and  la  Maitrise  parfaite ;  but  this  arrangement  has 
been  discontinued  for  many  years.' 

"'Are  you  at  liberty,'  said  Bro.  Meyrick,  'to  commu- 
nicate the  ceremonies  V 

"'I  was  allowed  to  witness  them,'  our  intelligent 
visitor  replied,  'without  any  injunctions  of  secresy;  for 
I  believe  all  Freemasons,  who  have  passed  the  degree  of 
a  Fellowcraft,  are  eligible  for  admission.' 

'"I  am  afraid,'  Bro.  Inwood  suggested,  'that  there 
must  be  some  degree  of  indelicacy  in  the  proceedings.' 

"  '  Not  the  slightest,  I  assure  you,'  said  the  visitor. 
'  The  ceremonies  are  conducted  with  the  most  laudable 
decorum.  We  are,  of  course,  totally  ignorant  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  dark  room,  as  none  but  females  are 
admitted  to  that  penetralia,  and  the  preparations  are 
conducted  by  females  only.  But  when  these  are  com- 
pleted, and  the  trials  of  fortitude  come  on,  the  novice  is 
conducted  through  the  process  by  a  lady  and  gentleman 
together.' 

"_'  The  lady  candidates,  I  presume,  are  not  subjected 
to  any  very  severe  tests,'  Bro.  S.  Jones  observed. 

"  '  By  my  faith,'  said  the  visitor  earnestly,  '  but  you 
are  mistaken.  The  trials  they  have  to  undergo  would 
be  sufficient  to  make  many  of  our  more  robust  sex 
tremble.' 

"  '  Their  powers  of  endurance,  however,'  Bro.  Tegart 
observed,  '  cannot  be  very  strictly  dealt  with,  or  many 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE.  287 

of  them  would  shrink  from  the  infliction,  and  the  num- 
ber of  initiations  would  be  considerably  reduced.' 

"  '  On  the  contrary,'  the  visitor  replied,  '  their  trials 
are  urged  to  the  severest  extremity,  and  the  novices 
endure  them  bravely.  Occasionally,  indeed,  a  timid 
female  may  faint  during  the  harrowing  process,  and  I  am 
told  it  does  sometimes  happen.  An  anecdote  is  related 
of  an  event  of  this  kind  which  occurred  at  the  Revolu- 
tion, just  before  the  Lodges  were  closed.' 

"  «  Which  you  will  perhaps  do  us  the  favour  to  relate,' 
the  R.  W.  M.  interposed. 

"  '  With    the  greatest   pleasure,'  our  visitor  replied. 

*  But  to  make  the  detail  clearly  intelligible,  I  ought  first 
to  inform  you  that  the  Adoptive  Lodges  are  fitted  up 
with  scenery  and  machinery  like  a  theatre  prepared  for 
one  of  our  most  complicated  pantomimes.     This  being 
premised,  you  will  have  no  difficulty  in  comprehending 
the  following  extraordinary  scene. 

"  *  A  young  lady,  of  somewhat  irritable  temperament, 
was  introduced  as  a  candidate  for  admission.  During  the 
preparatory  examination,  she  exhibited  a  degree  of  nerv- 
ous excitement,  which  attracted  the  observation  of  the 
Venerable,  or  R.  W.  M.,  and  he  asked  her  kindly  whether 
she  had  any  confidence  in  her  own  fortitude  ?' 

"  "I  know,'  she  replied,  '  that  there  is  danger  to  be 
encountered  ;  but  I  am  not  afraid  of  it.' 

"  ' '  Not  to  deceive  you  in  this  matter,'  responded  the 
Venerable,  *  I  think  it  right  to  add  that  your  person  will 
be  exposed  to  the  most  imminent  perils ;  and  if  you  feel 
any  misgivings,  it  would  be  better  for  you  to  retire  un- 
scathed than  to  fail  in  courage  and  resolution  ;  for  if  you 
should  be  so  unfortunate  as  to  shrink  from  the  actual 
presence  of  danger,  you  will  expose  yourself  to  the  con- 
tempt and  derision  of  the  Lodge.' 

"  *  *  You  insult  me  by  your  doubts,'    said  the  lady  ; 

*  exhibit  your  terrors,   and  see  if  I    shall  blanch  under 
them.' 

"  '  She  was  accordingly  conducted  through  all  the  usual 
trials  of  fortitude,  and  endured  them  with  the  courage 
of  a  martyr ;  and  even  at  last,  when  placed  on  the  sum- 
mit of  the  symbolical  mountain,  and  told  that  she  must 
cast  herself  down  from  thence  into  the  abyss  below, 
13* 


288        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

where  she  saw  a  double  row  of  bright  steel  spikes,  long 
and  sharp.' 

"  *  Mimic  spikes,  of  course,'  interposed  Bro.  Inwood. 

"  *  No,  indeed,'  said  the  stranger;  '  they  were  real, 
substantial  spikes,  that  would  have  killed  a  horse,  if  he 
should  have  been  impaled  thereon.  The  word  was  given 
to  throw  herself  down,  and,  with  a  suppressed  shriek, 
she  made  the  required  plunge;  and  so  unexpectedly  sud- 
den was  her  obedience,  that  the  Frere  terrible,  or  guide, 
who  had  charge  of  the  machinery,  was  scarcely  allowed 
time  to  touch  the  spring,  before  she  fell  recumbent  at 
the  bottom  of  the  abyss.' 

"  '  Poor  creature !  What  became  of  her?'  asked  Bro. 
Inwood,  highly  interested. 

"  '  You  shall  hear.  The  machinery  is  so  contrived, 
that,  at  the  very  moment  when  the  final  leap  is  taken,  the 
scene  changes  to  an  Elysium  of  green  fields  and  shady 
trees,  bubbling  fountains  and  purling  streams ;  and  be- 
neath the  velvet  herbage  is  placed  a  bed  of  the  softest 
down,  to  receive  the  fair  body  of  the  exhausted  novice 
as  she  falls.  In  the  present  case  the  lady  fainted,  and 
lay  for  a  time  without  motion  ;  but  she  was  soon  restored 
and  tranquillized  by  the  application  of  essences  and  per- 
fumes, and  the  soft  and  soothing  influence  of  delicious 
music.  Being  afterwards  introduced  into  the  Lodge,  her 
constancy  was  rewarded  by  witnessing,  and  forming  a 
part  of,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  captivating  scenes 
I  ever  beheld.' 

"  *  You  mean  the  Lodge,  I  presume,'  said  Bro. 
M'Gillivray. 

"  '  I  do.  And  my  description,  I  am  afraid,  will  do  it 
imperfect  justice.  Imagine  a  lofty  room  of  ample  di- 
mensions, magnificently  fitted  up  and  decorated  ;  the 
richly-ornamented  walls  adorned  with  a  profusion  of 
costly  pictures  in  massive  gilt  frames,  and  garlands  of 
sweet-smelling  flowers ;  and  at  either  end  of  the  room 
superb  mirrors  reaching  from  the  ceiling  to  the  floor ; 
the  hangings  of  crimson  velvet  and  gold  ;  statues  and 
busts  disposed  in  convenient  situations  ;  the  floor  covered 
with  a  rich  Turkey  carpet ;  and  the  room  brilliantly 
lighted  by  cut-glass  chandeliers.  The  R.  W.  M.,  or 
Venerable,  and  the  Grand  Maitresse  occupy  two  gorge- 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         289 

ous  thrones  in  the  east,  and  the  sisters,  alternately  with 
well-dressed  men,  are  seated  around,  uniformly  habited 
in  pure  white  robes,  relieved  by  aprons  and  scarfs  in  sky 
blue,  from  which  jewels  of  gold  are  suspended  ;  and 
they  are  crowned  with  bouquets  of  roses. 

"  '  Imagine  all  this,  and  still  it  will  be  impossible  to 
understand  the  effect  which  this  brilliant  scene  produces 
in  the  mind.  It  almost  realizes  the  luxurious  description 
of  the  palace  of  pleasure  in  the  groves  of  Shadaski,  by 
which  the  merchant  Abudah  was  ensnared.' 

"  '  The  French  ladies  are,  of  course,  enchanted  with 
Freemasonry,'  Bro.  Crespigny  observed. 

"  *  Why,  to  say  the  truth,'  the  stranger  replied, 
'  there  are  but  few  that  embrace  the  opportunity.  A 
vast  majority  of  the  women  are'pefectly  indifferent  to 
initiation  and  all  its  privileges  ;  and  even  those  who  have 
been  admitted,  are  very  remiss  in  their  attendance  except 
on  occasions  where  some  extraordinary  excitement  is  anti- 
cipated— as  a  gala,  an  initiation,  a  ball,  or  some  other 
species  of  amusement  that  is  in  character  with  the  ano- 
maly of  Lady  Masons.  And  some  who  have  evinced  a 
feverish  anxiety,  before  their  admission,  to  know  the 
secrets,  have  professed  themselves  grievously  disap- 
pointed. I  am  acquainted  with  an  instance  of  this  kind, 
which  is  not  uninteresting.' 

"  '  And  no  secret,  I  presume,'  said  the  R.  W.  M. 

"  *  By  -no  means,'  our  entertaining  visitor  replied. 
'  An  English  young  lady  of  good  family,  residing  at 
Paris,  received  the  addresses  of  a  French  gentleman  with 
the  concurrence  of  her  parents.  Matters  had  been  satis- 
factorily arranged  ;  and  as  they  sat  together  on  the  sofa, 
he  pressed  her  to  name  the  happy  day.' 

"  "  If  you  would  but  give  up  that  nasty  Masonry,'  she 
listlessly  replied,  *  you  should  have  my  permission  to 
name  it  yourself 

"  '  *  Or  admit  you  into  the  Lodge,'  he  suggested. 

"  "  Ah,'  she  sighed,  *  that  is  a  different  affair.  If  that 
could  be  accomplished  indeed ' 

"  "  We'll  see  what  can  be  done,'  he  replied. 

"  ' '  Well,  Adolphe,'  she  eagerly  responded,  'if  you  can 
manage  that, — why  then' — she  hesitated. 

"  '  *  Then  what?'  the  gentleman  asked. 


290  THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE, 

""Why,  then,  I  promise  that  the  marriage  shall  be 
solemnized  within  a  week.' 

""Agreed,'  said  the  gratified  lover,  'you  shall  be 
made  a  Mason  this  very  night.'  And  he  left  her  to 
arrange  the  necessary  preparations. 

"  'In  the  evening  he  escorted  her  to  the  Lodge-room, 
arid  she  was  formally  initiated  by  the  celebrated  Madame 
Vaudencourt,  assisted  by  the  Venerable  of  the  Lodge  of 
St.  Caroline,  and  permitted  to  ascend  even  to  the  third 
step  of  the  Adoptive  Ladder  ;  was  invested  with  the 
symbolical  apron  and  sash;  intrusted  with  the  signs, 
tokens,  arid  words  ;  and  after  having  heard  from  the  ora- 
tor the  usual  explanations  of  the  antiquity  (?),  the 
nature-  and  design  of  the  Institution,  the  banquet  was 
introduced,  and  our  curious  novice  was  instructed 
in  the  mystical  signification  of  the  cabalistic  words — red 
oil,  trim  your  Lamp,  snuff  your  lamp,  lift  up  by  Jive,  <Jt.  ; 
which  being  uttered  by  a  sweet  and  musical  voice,  pos- 
sess an  indescribable  charm,  of  which  those  who  have 
not  heard  it  can  form  no  adequate  idea.' 

"  *  I  have  no  doubt  but  your  fair  friend  was  immensely 
gratified,'  said  Bro.  Crespigny. 

" '  You  shall  hear,'  replied  the  visitor.  "  The  next 
morning  our  eager  lover  called  on  his  affianced  bride 
early,  impatient  to  receive  her  thanks  and  congratula- 
tions for  procuring  her  such  an  unexpected  treat.  But 
in  answer  to  his  inquiry  how  she  liked  Freemasonry,  she 
only  exclaimed,  in  a  tone  of  voice  resembling  the  whine 
of  a  noble  hound,  which  receives  a  smart  cut  of  the 
whip  instead  of  the  expected  crust — '  L — a — w  !  Adol- 
phe  !  and  is  this  a — 11  ?' 

""All!  To  be  sure  it  is.  What  more  did  you  ex- 
pect?' 

"  "  If  that  is  really  all,'  she  continued,  in  a  listless 
tone  of  voice;  '  I  half  repent  my  promise ;  for  although 
the  tout  ensemble  is  very  beautiful — as  a  show — I  confess 
I  am  woefully  disappointed.' 

"  "  Why,  what  in  the  name  of  wonder  could  you  hope 
to  see  ?  Grinning  goblins — speaking  pictures — or  statues 
weeping  blood?  Or  did  you  expect  any  magical  per- 
formances— evoking  spirits,  or  raising  the  dead?' 

"  "  Be  quiet,  Adolphe,'  the  lady  pettishly  replied, 
'  and  do  not  be  ridiculous.  I  can't  tell  you  what  I  ex- 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        291 

pected.  All  I  can  say  is — that  it  is  unsatisfactory 
Heigho !  If  this  be  all — you  will  be  at  liberty  to  attend 
the  Lodge  at  your  pleasure;  but  for  myself — I  shall  go 
no  more.' 

"  '  What  a  practical  lesson  does  this  anecdote  furnish,' 
said  Bro.  Meyrick,  '  to  those  cowans  who  affect  to  term 
the  exclusion  of  females  from  the  celebrations  of  Masonry 
a  blot  in  our  e-scutcheon !' 

"'Aye,'  replied  Bro.  Tegart,  'and  I  believe  every 
genuine  Englishwoman  would  exhibit  the  same  noble 
feeling,  if  she  were  to  be  forced  into  Masonry.  It  is  not 
to  her  taste.' 

" '  She  would  be  more  agreeably  employed,'  said  Bro. 
Simpson,  'in  making  shirts  for  her  husband,  or  puddings 
for  her  children ;  or  in  pickling  walnuts  and  preserving 
plums.' 

" '  A  Frenchwoman,'  Bro.  Tegart  resumed,  without  at- 
tending to  Bro.  Simpson's  homely  remark,  'may  be 
pleased  with  such  frippery,  and  gratified  by  the  adulation 
and  subserviency  which  accompanies  it;  but  our  coun- 
trywomen look  forward  to  the  more  rational  pursuits 
and  amusements  of  their  sex;  to  the  pleasure  of  domestic 
happiness,  surrounded  by  their  beloved  children;  to  the 
delights  which  flow  from  the  practice  of  Christian  bene- 
volence ;  visiting  the  sick ;  relieving  the  distressed ;  com- 
forting the  afflicted ;  and  last,  though  not  least,  of  super- 
intending the  morals  of  their  poor  neighbours,  and  crown- 
ing their  humble  dwellings  with  industry  and  content ; 
practising,  in  a  word,  all  the  moral  duties  of  Masonry, 
without  being  troubled  with  its  details.  This  is  the 
glorious  career  of  an  Englishwoman,  which  she  would 
not  barter  for  all  the  Masonry  in  Christendom,  if  it  were 
freely  offered  for  her  acceptance.  Nor  can  I  be  led  to 
believe  that  if  Freemasonry  were  thrown  open  to  the 
females  of  this  land  to-morrow,  any  educated  or  re- 
spectable woman  would  consent  to  be  a  candidate  for 
initiation.' 

"  'I  am  acquainted  with  a  lady,'  said  Bro.  M'Gillivray. 
'  who  knows  all  the  signs,  words,  and  tokens  of  the  First 
Degree,  having,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  been  enlightened  by 
her  husband,  at  the  expense  of  his  0.  B. ;  but  she  is  a 
woman  of  honour,  and  makes  no  use  of  the  information, 
but  to  astonish  young  candidates  of  her  acquaintance, 


292        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

by  giving  them  the  grip,  and  whispering  in  their  ear  the 
E.  A.  P.  word;  which  proves  clearly  that  a  woman  is 
capable  of  keeping  a  secret;  for  I  am  confident  that  she 
has  never  betrayed  it  to  any  person  of  her  own  sex,  or 
to  a  man  who  had  not  been  previously  initiated.' 

" 'But  we  are  all  this  while  waiting  to  hear  the  cere- 
monial described,'  said  Bro.  Simpson. 

"The  visitor  hesitated,"  said  the  Square,  "and  the 
R.  W.  M.  came  to  the  rescue,  by  saying, — « Come,  come, 
Bro.  Simpson,  I  think  it  will  be  unfair  to  press  our 
worthy  Brother  too  far.  I  can  easily  conceive,  although 
he  may  be  under  no  particular  injunctions  of  secresy, 
that  it  would  be  repugnant  to  the  feelings  of  a  conscien- 
tious man  to  reveal  what  he  honestly  believes  ought,  in 
strict  justice  and  propriety,  to  be  kept  secret.  Let  us 
not,  therefore,  pry  too  narrowly  into  the  recondite  mys- 
teries of  our  fair  sisters ;  but  show  by  our  conduct 
that— 

*  We  are  true  and  sincere, 

And  just  to  the  fair, 
Who  will  trust  us  on  any  occasion ; 

No  mortal  can  more 

The  ladies  adore. 
Than  a  Free  and  an  Accepted  Mason.' w 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

THE    SCHISM   HEALED. DR.  HEMMING. 

1810—1813. 


-The  grand  debate, 
The  popular  harangue,  the  tart  reply, 
The  logic,  and  the  wisdom,  and  the  wit, 
And  the  loud  laugh  — I  long  to  know  them  all, — 
I  burn  to  set  the  imprisoned  wranglers  free. 
And  give  them  voice  and  utterance  again." 

COWPER. 

*'  Take  care  always  to  choose  a  good  president ;  and  then  follow 
your  leader.  An  army  of  stags  is  more  to  be  feared  under  the  com- 
mand of  a  lion,  than  an  army  of  lions  led  by  a  stag." — OLD  PROVERB. 

f'Lo  !  see  from  Heav'n  the  peaceful  dove 

With  olive-branch  descend ; 
Augustus  shall  with  Frederic  join 

All  rivalry  to  end ; 
And  taught  by  their  fraternal  love, 
Our  arms  and  hearts  shall  intertwine, 
The  Union  to  approve.1' 

GLEE,  sung  at  the  Union. 

"  SINCE  the  revival  of  Freemasonry  at  the  death  of 
Sir  Christopher  Wren,"  the  Square  continued,  "  every 
consecutive  period  has  been  enlightened  by  the  lucu- 
brations of  some  intelligent  expositor,  whose  suggestions 
have  received  the  sanction  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  and  in- 
creased the  value  of  masonic  literature.  The  laudable 
exertions  of  Desaguliers,  Anderson,  and  Bathurst  (who 
was  Grand  Master  of  the  York  Masons),  were  followed 
up  by  Brothers  Oakley,  Martin  Clare,  Cole,  and  Dermott 
(ancient),  Entick,  Calcott,  Bagnall,  Dunckerley,  Hutchin- 
son,  Thompson,  Smith,  Noorthouck,  Preston,  Jones,  and 
Inwood,  all  well-known  names  amongst  the  Fraternity, 
and  many  others,  whose  writings  have  adorned  the  Order, 
and  whose  lives  have  been  a  running  commentary  on 
their  works. 

"  I  do  not  enumerate  these  brilliant  masonic  charac- 


294        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

tej*s,"  said  the  Square,  "for  the  purpose  of  conveying 
an  idea  that  they  stand  alone  in  their  several  periods  as 
the  renovators  and  pillars  of  the  Craft,  because  their 
cotemporaries  were  numerous  and  active.  These  are 
merely  the  worthy  band  of  Brothers,  to  whom  at  different 
periods  the  sanction  or  countenance  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
was  extended  as  an  encouragement  to  their  activity,  and 
an  incitement  to  their  zeal  in  augmenting  and  displaying 
the  capabilities  of  Masonry,  that  it  might  proceed  in  its 
onward  march  in  a  line  parallel  with  social  and  scientific 
improvement,  and  prevent  the  Society  from  falling  back 
on  the  moral  and  intellectual  darkness  of  unrecorded 
times. 

'^Such  were  the  observations  of  Dr.  Hemming,"  said 
the  Square,  "  when  he  was  elevated  to  the  chair  of  the 
Lodge  on  St.  John's  day,  1811 ;  and  he  pursued  the  same 
train  of  thought  at  great  length,  to  the  edification  of 
several  eminent  scientific  Brethren  who  were  present  on 
the  occasion.  He  proved  to  be  an  excellent  Master,  and 
ever  attentive  to  his  duties  in  the  Lodge  ;  strict,  even  to 
severity,  in  his  discipline,  and  watchful  over  the  conduct 
of  his  officers  in  the  punctual  and  orderly  performance 
of  their  respective  functions. 

"  During  this  year,  a  noble  and  learned  peer  of  the 
realm  was  proposed  as  a  candidate  for  initiation ;  and  our 
R.  W.  M.  performed  the  ceremony  with  such  seriousness 
and  effect,  as  produced  a  genial  impression  on  his  lord- 
ship's mind ;  and  when  in  due  course  he  was  raised  to 
the  sublime  degree  of  a  Master  Mason,  Dr.  Hemming 
subjoined  the  following  apposite  remarks  to  the  Pres- 
tonian  Charge: — 

"  *  As  the  foundation-stone  of  every  magnificent  edifice,' 
he  said,  addressing  the  newly-raised  Brother,  *  is  usually 
deposited  at  the  north-east  angle  of  the  building,  so  you, 
my  Lord  and  Brother,  as  a  masonic  postulant,  when  you 
had  taken  your  first  degree,  were  placed  in  the  same 
situation,  because  you  then  represented  the  foundation- 
stone  of  a  new  masonic  structure,  which,  it  is  hoped, 
you  will  beautify  and  adorn  with  the  rich  materials  of 
Wisdom,  Strength,  and  Beauty.  In  this  sense,  the  de- 
gree which  was  then  conferred  upon  you,  represents  the 
outer  court  of  the  Tabernacle  of  Moses,  and  the  court 
of  the  Gentiles  in  the  Temple  at  Jerusalem ;  for  in  either 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         295 

case  the  uncircumcised  could  penetrate  no  further.  -A 
similar  disposition  prevailed  in  the  early  ordinances  of 
Christianity;  for  penitents  were  only  allowed  to  seat 
themselves  in  the  atrium,  outside  the  western  portico  of 
the  church. 

"  'Again,'  the  K.  W.  M.  continued,  'your  lordship  will 
do  well  to  observe  another  extraordinary  coincidence. 
The  Rite  or  Sacrament  of  Baptism,  which  introduced 
the  penitent  into  the  nave  of  the  Church,  corresponding 
with  the  privilege  that  enabled  a  Jew  to  enter  into  the 
second  division  of  the  Tabernacle  or  Temple,  is  repre- 
sented by  the  Degree  of  a  Fellowcraft,  which  qualifies 
the  candidate  to  enter  into  the  Holy  Place,  and  be 
invested  with  the  highest  honours  and  privileges  of 
Masonry ;  and  as  this  part  of  the  Tabernacle  was  called 
Holy,  so  the  advanced  Mason  is  said  to  stand  on  Holy 
Ground.  It  was  denominated  by  St.  Paul  a  worldly 
sanctuary ;  and,  therefore,  at  this  step  of  your  progress, 
you  became  eligible  for  instruction  in  worldly  knowledge, 
and  received  the  rudiments  of  scientific  acquirement. 
You  were  taught  the  elements  of  the  seven  liberal 
sciences,  including  geometry,  with  its  application  to 
architecture,  which  may  be  said  to  constitute  the  secular 
design  of  the  Order,  in  which  your  name  has  now  been 
fully  enrolled.' 

"  4  But  it  is  only  when  a  Mason  has  been  raised  to  the 
Third  Degree,  that  he  can  form  an  accurate  judgment 
of  the  real  tendency  of  our  mysterious  Association.  "Up 
to  this  point,  all  has  been  preliminary,  and  consequently 
superficial.  But  now  the  whole  scheme  of  Masonry  be- 
comes revealed  to  the  enlightened  eye  of  the  Master 
Mason.  Like  the  High  Priest  of  Israel  entering  the 
S.  S.  of  the  Tabernacle  and  Temple,  he  beholds,  with 
steady  gaze,  the  Shekinah  of  glory;— like  the  perfect 
Christian  admitted  to  communion  with  his  God  and 
Saviour,  he  enters  the  Church  Triumphant,  and  beholds 
insuperable  things,  which  it  is  not  lawful  for  him  to 
reveal ;  and,  like  St.  Paul  in  the  third  heaven,  he  hears 
unspeakable  words,  which  to  utter  would  be  death.' 

"At  this  period,"  the  Square  continued,  "  the  conduct 
of  the  Athol  Masons  formed  the  all-absorbing  subject  of 
conversation  throughout  the  entire  Craft,  and  the  un- 
popularity of  the  schism  was  every  day  increasing.  I 


996        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

remember  very  well — it  was  about  the  year  1755 — that 
Dr.  Manningham,  our  R.  W.  M.,  attended  a  Lodge  at  the 
Ben  Jonson's  Head,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining,  by 
ocular  demonstration,  the  practices  of  certain  Brethren 
meeting  there,  which  had  become  objects  of  suspicion 
amongst  the  regular  Craft.  It  had  been  publicly  an- 
nounced that  this  Lodge  was  principally  composed  of 
ancient  Masons,  though  under  the  modern  constitution, 
and  that  some  of  ihe  Brethren  had  been  on  the  continent, 
and  had  witnessed  extraordinary  manifestations  in  ancient 
Masonry  in  some  of  the  foreign  Lodges,  which  it  had  been 
agreed  by  the  Members  to  practise  on  every  third  Lodge 
night  there.1 

"  It  was  at  one  of  these  privileged  meetings  that  our 
R.  W.  M.  offered  himself  as  a  visitor;  and  holding  the 
high  office  of  D.  G.  M.,  he  could  not  decently  be  refused 
admission,  although  many  other  Masons  had  already 
suifered  the  disappointment  of  exclusion  from  these  mys- 
terious celebrations*  Dr.  Manningham  did  not  assert  his 
right  to  occupy  the  chair  as  D.  G.  M.,  but  consented  to 
take  his  place  as  the  R.  W.  M.  of  his  Lodge. 

"  The  business  went  on,  and  we  found  ourselves  in  a 
new  atmosphere,  which  presented  much  that  we  were  at 
a  loss  to  comprehend ;  and  Dr.  Manningham  at  length 
ascertained,  by  repeated  examinations — and  his  questions 
were  answered  with  evident  reluctance — that  this  pre- 
tended ancient  Masonry  consisted  of  nothing  more  than 
a  reconstruction  of  Ramsay's  Royal  Arch,  adapted  by 
the  genius  of  Craft  Masonry,  the  principal  feature  of 
which  was  a  transfer  of  the  real  Landmarks  of  a  Master 
Mason  to  a  new  degree,  unknown  to  the  Fraternity  be- 
fore the  date  of  this  unnatural  schism. 

"  Dr.  Manningham  expressed,  in  very  strong  terms, 
his  uncontrollable  surprise  at  this  discovery;  and  told 
the  Brethren  plainly  that  they  were  practising  an  impo- 
sition on  the  public.  While  taunting  the  constitutional 
Masons  with  using  a  modern  system,  he  said,  and  tamper- 
ing with  the  old  Landmarks,  they  themselves  were  dis- 
tinguished by  an  apparatus  which  could  not  substantiate 
an  antiquity  of  more  than  ten  or  a  dozen  years;  and  were 
making  fearful  havoc  with  the  Landmarks,  by  subdivid- 

1  See  the  Ahiman  Rezon,  p.  xii.,  Ed.  1813. 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQtJARE.  297 

ing  the  Third  Degree  into  two  separate  and  distinct 
portions,  to  lend  a  sanction  to  the  new  and  untenable 
doctrine  that  Freemasonry  consists  of  four  Degrees ;  the 
latter  of  which,  called  the  Holy  Royal  Arch,  was  con- 
ferred upon  no  Brother  who  could  not  prove  himself  to 
be  well-versed  in  the  three  preceding  Degrees,2 — a  very 
unstable  foundation  to  support  the  fiction  of  an  ancient 
establishment. 

"After  making  these  wholesale  innovations,"  the  Square 
continued,  "  Lawrence  Dermott,  the  then  Grand  Master, 
boasted  that  'Ancient  Masonry  contains  everything  valua- 
ble amongst  the  moderns,  as  well  as  many  other  things 
that  cannot,  be  revealed  without  additional  ceremonies.1  And 
again,  '  a  person  made  in  the  modern  manner,  and  not 
after  the  ancient  custom  of  the  Craft,  has  no  right  to  be 
called  Free  and  Accepted,  according  to  the  intent  and 
meaning  of  the  words.'  And  further,  that  *  the  number 
of  Ancient  Masons  abroad,  compared  with  the  moderns,  prove 
the  universality  of  the  old  Order,  &c.,  &c.'3 

"Now,"  said  the  Square,  "the  offensive  appellation 
of  moderns  was  inflicted  on  the  original  body  by  the 
seceders,  because,  in  the  year  1740,  the  Grand  Lodge,  in 
order  to  detect  these  impostors,  as  I  heard  Bro.  Noorth- 
ouck  explain  from  the  Chair  when  he  was  R.  W.  M.  of 
our  Lodge,  and  debar  them  and  their  abettors  from  the 
countenance  and  protection  of  the  regular  Lodges,  made 
a  slight  but  unimportant  variation  in  the  established 
forms.  This  afforded  a  subterfuge  at  which  the  refractory 
Brethren  eagerly  grasped.  They  at  once,  and  invidious- 
ly, assumed  the  distinctive  appellation  of  Ancient  Masons, 
ajid  stigmatized  the  constitutional  Brethren  with  the 
title  of  moderns.  This  artifice  served  to  strengthen 
their  party ;  the  uninformed  were  readily  caught  by  the 
specious  deception ;  and  in  an  age  when  thousands  of 
people  assembled  together  with  the  firm  belief  that  they 
were  about  to  see  a  man  inclose  himself  in  a  quart 
bottle,  we  need  scarcely  wonder  that  a  few  persons 
should  believe  in  the  plausible  fiction  that  a  knot  of  ex 
pel  led  Members  constituted  the  original  Society,  and 
the  Brethren  who  discarded  them  were  the  innovators. 
And  the  boldness  and  pertinacity  by  which  the  plea  was 

3  AMman  Rezon,  p.  113.  3  Ibid.,  p.  xix. 


298         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

urged,  ultimately  secured  the  adhesion  of  the  Sister 
Grand  Lodges  of  Scotland  and  Ireland. 

"And  what  was  this  variation, "'the  Square  inquired; 
"  which  produced  such  important  results  ?  Why,  I'll 
tell  you  in  the  words  of  Bro.  Daniell.  *I  would  beg 
leave  to  ask,'  he  said,  '  whether  two  persons  standing  in 
the  Guildhall  of  London,  the  one  facing  the  statues  of 
Gog  and  Magog,  and  the  other  with  his  back  towards 
them,  could,  with  any  degree  of  propriety,  quarrel  about 
their  situation,  as  Gog  must  be  on  the  right  of  one,  and 
Magog,  on  the  right  of  the  other  ?'  Such,  then,  and  far 
more  insignificant,  was  the  alteration  complained  of,  and 
bore  not  the  slightest  comparison  with  the  wholesale 
mangling  of  the  Third  Degree,  that  had  been  perpetrated 
by  the  Brethren  who  had  adopted  the  style  of  Ancient 
Masons. 

"At  the  ensuing  Grand  Lodge,  Dr.  Manningham  com- 
municated the  above-mentioned  irregularities,  and  stated 
his  opinion  that  immediate  measures  ought  to  be  adopted 
to  discountenance  the  schism,  as  he  considered  it  to  be 
an  open  and  gratuitous  insult  on  the  Grand  Master  and 
the  whole  Fraternity.  After  a  short  debate,  in  which 
there  was  scarcely  a  difference  of  opinion,  it  was  unani- 
mously resolved,  '  That  the  meetings  of  Brethren,  under 
any  denomination  of  Masons,  other  than  as  Brethren  of 
this  our  ancient  and  honourable  Society  of  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  is  inconsistent  with  the  honour  and 
interest  of  the  Craft,  and  a  high  insult  on  our  Grand 
Master,  and  the  whole  body  of  Masons.'4 

"  The  D.  G.  M.  then  moved,  and  it  was  agreed  to  una- 
nimously, that  the  consideration  of  the  irregular  pro- 
ceedings of  the  said  Brethren  be  postponed  till  the  next 
Quarterly  Communication,  that  a  thorough  sense  of  their 
misconduct,  and  a  determination  not  to  be  guilty  of  the 
like  for  the  future,  may  induce  them  to  acknowledge 
their  transgression,  and  reconcile  them  to  the  Grand 
Lodge. 

"But,  alas!"  the  Square  apostrophized,  "the  scheme 
was  too  promising  to  be  hastily  abandoned.  Instead  oi 
confessing  their  fault,  the  seceding  Brethren  openly  defied 

4  Minutes  of  Grand  Lodge,  March  20,  1755.  See  also  Noorth. 
Const.,  p.  264. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        299 

the  power  of  the  Grand  Lodge;  and,  therefore,  at  the 
succeeding  Quarterly  Communication,  it  was  ordered 
'  that,  as  the  delinquents  persisted  in  their  disobedience 
the  Lodge,  No.  94,  held  at  Ben  Jonson's  Head,  in  Pelham 
street,  Spitalfields,  be  erased  from  .the  list  of  Lodges,  and 
that  such  of  the  Brethren  thereof  as  shall  continue  those 
irregular  meetings,  shall  not  be  admitted  as  visitors  in 
any  Lodge  under  the  Constitution  of  England.'5 

" Lawrence  Dermott,"  the  Square  continued,  "was 
an  intelligent  fellow,  and  cared  very  little  for  the  above 
denunciation.  He  proceeded  to  form  a  Grand  Lodge  of 
his  own,  elected  himself  its  Grand  Master,  and  performed, 
without  the  slightest  hesitation,  all  the  functions  of  an 
independent  body,  granting  warrants,  and  exacting  fees, 
with  all  imaginable  coolness;  and  his  imposition  was  more 
successful  than  those  of  many  of  the  continental  innova- 
tors, for  it  enjoyed  a  supremacy,  although  not  unques- 
tioned, of  seventy  years'  continuance ;  and,  which  appears 
still  more  strange,  his  Royal  Arch  Degree  was  ultimately 
adopted  by  our  own  Grand  Lodge,  and  formally  incorpo- 
rated into  the  system,  with  this  essential  difference,  how- 
ever, that  while  the  schismatics  declared,  in  their  Book 
Constitutions,  that  ancient  Masonry  consists  of  FOUR 
Degrees,  the  Constitutional  Grand  Lodge  retained  the 
primitive  tradition,  that  Freemasonry  contains  Three 
Degrees  only,  including  the  Royal  Arch.6 

"At  the  very  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century," 
the  Square  continued,  "  viz.,  in  November,  1801,  a  charge 
of  a  very  serious  nature  was  exhibited  in  Grand  Lodge, 
by  Bro.  Daniell,  S.  W.  of  the  Grand  Stewards'  Lodge, 
who  had  been  complimented  by  authority,  as  a  reward 
for  his  activity  and  zeal,  with  the  title  of  Defender  of  the 
ancient  rights  and  privileges  of  Masonry,  against  Thomas 

6  Minutes  of  Grand  Lodge,  July  24,  1755. 

6  The  difference  between  ancient  and  modern,  when  divested  of  all 
technicalities,  was  simply  this : — The  modern,  so  called  by  the  inno- 
vators, retained  the  original  system,  consisting  of  three  degrees,  in 
all  its  integrity ;  the  ancient,  so  called  by  themselves,  mutilated  the 
third  degree,  by  dividing  it  into  two  parts,  and  pronounced  in  the 
Book  of  Constitutions  that  genuine  Ancient  Masonry  consists  of  four 
degrees.  They  boasted  of  the  sanction  of  the  Grand  Lodge  at  York 
but  I  never  heard  that  that  Grand  Lodge  extended  its  countenance  to 
them;  and,  indeed,  if  that  assertion  had  been  true,  why  did  they 
establish  a  Grand  Lodge  of  their  own  1 


300  THE    REVELATIONS    OP    A    SQUARE. 

Harper,  a  D.  G.  M.  of  the  adverse  party,  and  others,  for 
patronizing  and  becoming  principals  in  a  Society  calling 
themselves  Ancient  Masons,  and  acting  in  direct  violation 
of  the  laws  of  the  regular  Grand  Lodge. 

'•  When  the  complaint  was  heard,  Bro.  Harper,  pursuant 
to  a  summons  which  had  been  served  upon  him,  appear- 
ed personally;  and,  in  the  joint  names  of  himself  and 
his  associates,  read  a  rambling  defence,  in  Cromwellian 
style,  which  failed  either  to  disprove  or  justify  the 
charge,  and  was  rather  calculated  to  display  the  gulli- 
bility of  mankind,  than  to  exculpate  himself.  Taking 
advantage  of  the  Hudibrastic  aphorism,  that 

the  pleasure  is  as  great 


Of  being  cheated  as  to  cheat,1 

he  converted  the  principle  to  his  own  advantage,  and 
found  it  rather  a  successful  ruse.  But  Bro.  Daniell,  in 
his  reply,  dissipated  all  his  arguments,  and  substantiated 
the  original  accusation  by  new  facts,  drawn  from  Bro. 
Harper's  own  defence.  He  practically  applied  the  above 
principle  by  a  humorous  allusion  to  the  passage,  and 
pursued  his  illustrations  by  quoting  a  few  additional  lines 
from  the  same  inimitable  burlesque.  c  Some  with  a 
noise,'  he  said,  amidst  loud  peals  of  laughter — 

*  Some  with  a  noise,  and  greasy  light, 
Are  snapt,  as  men  catch  larks  by  night; 
Ensnar'd  and  hamper'd  by  the  soul, 
As  nooses  by  the  leg  catch  fowl. 
Some  with  a  med'cine  and  receipt, 
Arc  drawn  to  nibble  at  the  bait ; 
And  tho'  it  be  a  two-foot  trout, 
'Tis  with  a  single  hair  pulled  out. 

*  As  for  Bro.  Harper's  arguments,'  he  continued,  'valeant 
quantum — there  they  are — take  them  for  what  they  are 
worth — I  myself  attach  no  value  whatever  to  them.' 

"  It  was  at  length  resolved,  that  the  laws  of  Masonry 
shall  be  strictly  enforced  against  the  offenders  unless  they 
promptly  withdraw  their  countenance  from  the  irregular 
assemblies. 

"  This  resolution  having  been  carried  by  a  very  large 
majority,  Bro.  Harper  threw  himself  on  the  mercy  of  the 
Grand  Lodge,  and  requested  time  to  consult  his  officers, 
which,  he  said,  if  the  Grand  Lodge  would  be  considerate 


THE  «  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         301 

enough  to  grant,  he  pledged  his  honour  that  he  would 
use  all  his  influence  to  secure  their  consent  to  a  reunion 
of  the  two  sections,  and  promised  to  furnish  a  definite 
answer  at  the  next  Quarterly  Communication. 

"After  this  solemn  declaration,"  continued  the  Square, 
"the  Grand  Master,  H.  R.  H.  the  Prince  Regent,  felt  so 
certain,  that  the  seceding  Brethren  would  be  no  longer 
contumacious,  but,  like  the  repenting  prodigal,  would 
return  to  their  allegiance  with  olive  branches  in  theii 
hands,  and  peccavimus  in  their  mouths,  that  he  instructed 
his  A.  G.  M.,  the  Earl  of  Moira,  to  form  a  committee, 
with  ample  powers  to  receive  the  erring  Brethren  with 
all  honour,  and  bring  them  back  into  the  fold.  And  that 
noble  Brother  publicly  declared,  when  reporting  the 
Constitution  of  his  committee,  that  his  heart  was  devoted 
to  the  work,  and  that  he  would  use  every  means  in  his 
power  to  bring  it  to  a  satisfactory  termination. 

"The  Fraternity  throughout  England  participated  in 
the  enthusiasm  of  the  A.  G.  M.,  and  were  animated  with 
the  same  hope.  Our  P.  G.  Chap.,  Bro.  Inwood,  wrote  a 
congratulatory  epistle  to  Bro.  Daniell  on  the  subject,  in 
which  he  expressed  his  unfeigned  pleasure  at  hearing 
*  that  a  union  of  the  two  masonic  Societies  is  likely  to  be 
accomplished  through  the  medium  of  our  highly  amiable 
and  talented  A.  G.  M. ;  and,'  he  continued,  '  it  will  impeach 
the  character  of  any  Brother  in  either  division,  who  shall 
cast  an  impediment  in  the  way,  which  may  obstruct  such 
a  measure  of  peace  and  harmony ;  for  it  will  prove  an 
hindrance  to  the  growth  of  brotherly  love,  and  subvert 
all  the  genial  and  beneficial  effects  which  arise,  not  only 
from  the  principles  of  Masonry,  but  also  from  those  of  our 
most  holy  religion. 

"  'My  hearty  wish  and  sincere  desire  is,'  Bro.  Inwood 
continued,  <  that  the  contemplated  union  may  be  speedily 
effected ;  that  the  masonic  Temple  of  universal  love  and 
concord  may  raise  its  beautiful  head,  not  only  above  all 
opposition  of  those  who  are  unacquainted  with  its  excel- 
lences, but  also  that  all  its  avenues  of  brotherly  love  may 
be  occupied  by  Brethren  of  one  heart  and  one  mind,  all 
aiming,  according  to  the  true  painciples  of  masonic  union, 
to  love  each  other  with  a  pure  heart  fervently,  that  the 
gazing  world,  admiring  to  see  how  we  Brethren  love, 
may  anxiously  desire  to  increase  our  numbers,  and  our 
means  of  doing  good.' 


302        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

"Notwithstanding  all  these  favourable  anticipations," 
said  the  Square,  "  the  negotiation  signally  failed.  Bro. 
Harper's  influence  was  not  exerted  to  restore  peace  and 
order  to  the  Fraternity,  in  redemption  of  his  pledge,  nor 
was  his  answer  delivered  at  the  Quarterly  Communica- 
tion ;  and,  therefore,  he  was  again  summoned,  more  than 
once  or  twice,  to  appear  before  the  Grand  Lodge,  and 
show  cause  why  he  should  not  be  expelled,  but  without 
effect.  His  contumacy  being  thus  clearly  established, 
and  his  irregularities  undenied,  the  Grand  Lodge,  after 
much  forbearance,  proceeded  to  more  vigorous  measures; 
and,  on  the  9th  day  of  February,  1803,  the  A.  G.  M.  being 
on  the  throne,  and  between  three  and  four  hundred 
Brethren  present,  the  matter  was  discussed  seriatim ;  and 
after  a  debate,  if  it  can  be  properly  called  a  debate  where 
all  the  speakers  are  of  one  opinion,  Bro.  Harper's  con- 
duct was  unanimously  pronounced  to  be  altogether 
unjustifiable;  and  the  following  resolutions  were  passed 
nem.  con. : — 

"  *  Resolved,  that  the  said  Thomas  Harper  be  expelled 
the  Society,  for  countenancing  and  supporting  a  set  of 
persons,  calling  themselves  Ancient  Masons,  and  holding 
Lodges  in  this  Kingdom  without  authorization  from  H. 
R.H.  the  Prince  of  Wales,  the  Grand  Master  duly  elected 
by  this  regular  Grand  Lodge. 

"  *  Resolved  also,  that  this  resolution  be  inserted  in  the 
printed  accounts  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  to  prevent  the  said 
Thomas  Harper  from  gaining  admittance  into  any  regular 
Lodge. 

*'  'And  it  was  further  resolved,  that,  whenever  it  shall 
appear  that  any  Masons,  under  the  Constitution  of  this 
Grand  Lodge,  shall  in  future  attend  or  countenance  any 
of  the  Lodges  or  meetings  of  persons  calling  themselves 
Ancient  Masons,  under  the  sanction  of  any  person  claim- 
ing to  be  Grand  Master  of  England,  and  not  duly  elected 
by  this  Grand  Lodge,  the  laws  of  the  Society  will  be 
strictly  enforced  against  them,  and  their  names  will  be 
sent  to  the  several  Lodges  under  the  Constitution  of 
England.'7 

"These  decisive  resolutions,"  continued  the  Square, 
"  operated  on  the  adverse  faction  very  powerfully ;  and 
many  private  Lodges,  under  the  Athol  system,  trans- 

7  Minutes  of  Grand  Lodge,  Feb.  9,  1803. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        303 

mitted  their  spurious  charters  to  our  Grand  Lodge,  re- 
questing that  they  might  be  exchanged  for  regular  war- 
rants under  the  Constitution  of  England,  which  was 
uniformly  complied  with,  free  of  expense. 

"Exasperated  by  these  proceedings,  which  the  princi- 
pal leaders  of  the  Athol  section  incorrectly  attributed  to 
the  original  motion  on  the  subject  made  by  Bro.  Daniel], 
they  resolved  to  punish  him  for  the  consequences  of  their 
own  delinquency;  and  for  that  purpose  they  committed 
a  furious  onslaught  on  his  pet  Lodge,  which  was  then  in 
the  height  of  its  popularity ;  and  I  have  heard  Bro. 
Daniell  assert  that  its  numerous  initiations  had  yielded 
upwards  of  a  thousand  pounds  in  Grand  Lodge  fees;  and 
its  finances  were  so  flourishing,  that  no  member  was  ever 
permitted  to  apply  to  the  fund  of  benevolence  for  pecu- 
niary assistance,  but  was  invariably  relieved  with  sums 
ranging  from  five  to  twenty  pounds  out  of  its  own  chari- 
table fund.  It  was  called  the  Royal  Naval  Lodge  of 
regular  Freemasons,  held  at  their  own  hall,  Burr  street, 
near  the  Tower.  The  Brethren  held  their  general  assem- 
bly on  the  first  Wednesday  in  every  month,  and  a  masonic 
council  every  Sunday  evening,  from  six  to  ten  o'clock. 

"I  do  not  approve  of  Sunday  evening  councils,"  said 
the  Square  parenthetically,  "but  they  were  of  very 
common  occurrence  in  ^those  days,  both  in  London  and 
the  provinces,  and  excited  neither  attention  nor  remark 
from  the  public  in  general.  They  have  now  been  judi- 
ciously replaced  by  Lodges  of  Instruction,  meeting  on  a 
more  appropriate  day. 

"It  was  against  this  Lodge,"  the  Square  continued, 
"that  Bro.  Harper  and  his  colleagues  fulminated  an 
anathema  in  the  shape  of  a  circular  forwarded  to  all  their 
350  Lodges,  in  these  wgrds : — '  W,  Sir,  and  Brethren, — 
Beware  of  certificates  with  the  following  inscription 
engraven  under  an  arch  at  the  top,  viz.,  Lodge  No.  57. 
of  the  most,  ancient  and  honourable^  Society  of  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons  of  all  England,  according  to  the  old  Con- 
stitutions. We  have  no  such  Lodge,  nor  ever  had  any 
uch  under  our  Constitution.  These  certificates  are,  in 
other  respects,  an  imitation  and  piracy,  taken  from  our 
Grand  Lodge  certificates.  It  has  become  necessary  to 
guard  you  against  imposition  and  the  designs  of  those 
who,  to  gratify  the  ambition  of  some,  or  cover  the  nefa- 
14 


304        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

rious  practices  of  others,  are  most  sedulously  employed 
to  destroy  your  existence  as  a  Lodge.  Signed,  Robert 
Leslie,  G.  Sec.' 

"Bro.  Daniell  was  the  R.  W.  M.  of  Hie  Royal  Xav.-il 
Lodge  at  that  time,  and  the  last  man  in  the  world  to 
submit  quietly  to  such  an  insult.  He,  therefore,  replied 
to  this  fierce  attack  by  taking  the  bull  by  the  horns,  and 
determined  to  fathom  the  very  bottom  of  the  mystery 
by  making  the  Duke  of  Athol  an  actual  party  to  the* 
proceeding.  For  this  purpose  he  published,  and  circu- 
lated extensively,  a  pamphlet  of  more  than  a  hundred 
pages,  in  the  form  of  an  address  to  the  Duke  of  Athol,  in 
whose  name,  and  under  whose  authority,  all  the  above- 
mentioned  acts  were  committed.8  It  was  written  in 
flowing  language,  and  exhibited  a  series  of  stubborn 
facts,  which  were  calculated  to  excite  his  grace's  atten- 
tion, and  dispose  him  to  listen  to  the  pressing  solicita- 
tions of  the  writer  for  an  union  of  their  mutual  interests, 
in  order  to  promote  the  general  peace  and  prosperity  of 
the  Craft  at  large. 

"'The  Grand  Lodge  of  England,'  he  said,  'were  ready 
to  receive  their  Brethren  with  open  arms,  to  register 
them  free  of  expense,  and  to  let  them  hold  their  funds 
sacred  to  their  own  widows  ajid  children ;  or  in  such 
manner  as  a  committee,  composed  of  an  equal  number  of 
Brethren  from  both  the  discordant  sections,  might  decide. 

"'That  your  grace,'  he  continued,  'may  proceed  on  thf* 
information  of  higher  and  more  respectable  authority 

8  "  Masonic  Union.  An  Address  to  his  Grace  the  Duke  o*  Athol. 
on  the  subject  of  an  Union  between  the  Masons  that  have  lately 
assembled  under  his  Grace's  sanction,  and  the  regular  Masons  of 
England,  of  which  H.  R.  H.  George,  ^Mnce  of  Wales,  is  the  Grand 
Master.  To  which  is  added  an  Appendix,  containing  authentic 
sources  of  masonic  information,  compiled  from  ancient  records ;  with 
an  Account  of  the  Grand  Patrons  and  Officers  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
from  time  immemorial  to  the  present  period  ;  and  a  correct  list  of  all 
the  'regular  Lodges  under  the  sanction  of  the  ancient  Grand  Lodge 
of  all  England.  Also,  an  account  of  a  projected  Union  lately  com- 
menced between  the  Grand  Lodges  of  Scotland  and  England,  by 
means  of  the  Right  Hon.  the  Earl  of  Moira,  A.  G.  M.  With  invalu- 
able extracts  from  Tn wood's  '  Masonic  Sermons.'  By  a  Member  of 
the  Fraternity*  London,  printed  by  J.  Shaw,  Whitefriars ;  published 
by  Asperne,  Cornhill ;  and  sold  by  Symonds,  Paternoster  Row ; 
Hatchard,  Piccadilly,  and  others ;  and  may  be  had  of  the  Tylers  of 
Lodges,  and  all  Booksellers  in  Town  and  Country." 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         305 

than  that  of  a  humble  individual  like  myself,  I  rejoice 
to  have  it  in  my  power  to  name  the  Right  Hon.  the  Earl 
of  Moira,  whose  knowledge  of  Masonry  is  equalled  only 
by  the  goodness  of  his  heart. 

'"Under  all  these  circumstances,'  he  concluded,"  said 
the  Square,  "'can  it  be  supposed  that  you,  my  lord,  as 
a  regular  Mason,  when  you  are  informed  of  the  origin  of 
the  Institution,  which  I  am  fully  persuaded  that  you  have 
Hitherto  patronized  from  the  purest  motives ;  can  it,  I 
say,  be  supposed  that  you,  or  any  other  nobleman,  would 
lend  his  name  to  support  or  countenance  a  society,  how- 
ever praiseworthy-  its  motives  may  appear,  which  holds 
its  meetings  in  direct"  violation  of  the  laws  of  the  original 
establishment,  and  the  government  of  the  Fraternity? 
No,  my  lord,  your  public  character  is  too  well  known 
— your  zeal  for  the  welfare  of  the  country  is  too  mani- 
fest— and  your  attachment  to  the  royal  family  too  deeply 
rooted  to  admit  of  wilful  deviation.  Therefore,  my  lord, 
I  trust  your  feelings  coincide  with  my  own,  and  that 
you  really  conceive  what  honour,  what  peculiar  satisfac- 
tion, and  what  heartfelt  pleasure  it  would  give  you,  to 
bring,  that  society,  which  you  have  lately  patronized, 
under  the  royal  banner.' 

"This  address,"  continued  the  Square,  "did  not  fail 
to  produce  the  intended  effect  on  the  mind  of  the  noble 
duke,  as  I  shall  soon  have  the  pleasure  of  recording ;  and 
I  have  related  these  anecdotes  for  the  purpose  of  show- 
ing that  the  attention  of  our  masonic  rulers  was  now 
more  particularly  directed  to  the  question  of  extinguish- 
ing the  schism,  which,  like  a  tower  built  on  sand,  was 
tottering  to  its  fall.  The  time  was  rapidly  approaching 
when  the  delusion  should  be  unmasked  ;  and  our  R.  W.  M. 
was  a  party  to  the  detection  of  the  imposture.  A  hope 
was  confidently  entertained  that  the  re-admission  of  the 
seceders  into  the  pale  of  genuine  Masonry,  by  the  media- 
tion of  mutual  friends,  would  be  speedily  accomplished; 
although  few  were  acquainted  with  the  particular  process 
by  which  so  desirable  a  result  was  to  be  effected. 

"I  have  already  to td  you, '\said  the  Square,  " that  a 
committee  had  been  appointed,  consisting  of  several  dis- 
tinguished members  of. the  Grand  Lodge,  of  which  the 
Earl  of  Moira  was  president ;  and  his  lordship  declared, 
after  accepting  that  appointment,  that  if  he  was  fortu- 


306        THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

nate  enough  to  secure  the  great  object  of  a  coalition 
between  the  two  parties,  he  should  consider  the  day  in 
which  it  was  ratified  and  confirmed  to  be  one  of  the 
most  brilliant  of  his  life. 

"The  first  preliminary  step  towards  the  readmission  01 
the  refractory  Brethren,  for  they  still  openly  resisted 
every  overture  towards  a  compromise,  and  even  con- 
tinued to  pursue  aggressive  measures  against  the  regular 
Lodges,  was  taken  by  the  A.  G.  M.  on  the  30th  of  No- 
vember, 1803,  at  the  festival  of  the  Grand  Lodge  ol 
Scotland.  It  is  acknowledged  by  Laurie,  in  his  history 
of  the  Scottish  Craft,  *  that  the  Masons  calling  themselves 
ancient,  are  much  to  be  blamed  as  the  active  promoters 
of  the  English  schism.  But  having  chosen  for  their 
G.  M.  the  Duke  of  Athol,  who  held  the  same  office  in 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  Scotland,  an  alliance  between  the 
two  parties  was  the  necessary  consequence;  and  the 
Scottish  Masons  hence  imbibed  a  strong  prejudice  against 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  England,  arising  from  an  alleged 
alteration  in  ceremonial  observances.'  It  was  to  remove 
the  prejudice  that  the  Earl  of  Moira  now  directed  his 
attention. 

"  On  the  above-mentioned  day  he  attended  the  annual 
grand  festival  of  Scottish  Masons,  and  an  opportunity 
being  thus  afforded  for  the  discussion  of  this  interesting 
subject,  he  detailed  the  entire  history  of  the  schism,  and 
dwelt  on  the  repeated  failures  of  the  Grand  Lodge  to 
convince  the  seceders  of  their  error,  and  receive  them 
back  into  the  bosom  of  their  common  mother.  He 
further  explained  that  the  trifling  alteration  which  it  had 
been  judged  expedient  to  make  in  the  ceremonies,  was 
more  an  imaginary  than  a  real  defect;  and  that  the 
English  Craft  had  ever  entertained  that  affection  and 
regard  for  their  northern  Brethren,  which  it  is  the  object 
of  Freemasonry  to  cherish,  and  the  duty  of  Freemasons 
to  feel. 

"This  explanation  was  received  with  plaudits,  and  the 
Earl  of  Dalhousie,  G.  M.  of  Scotland,  expressed  his 
gratification  at  hearing  that  measures  were  at  length 
contemplated  to  effect  an  union  which  would  restore 
harmony,  promote  activity  and  vigour,  and  invest  the 
Order  with  its  primitive  purity  and  usefulness. 

"These  proceedings,"   added  the  Square,  "furnished 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         307 

copious  matter  for  reflection  and  speculation  in  every 
Lodge  throughout  the  entire  length  and  breadth  of  the 
land;  and  in  1809,  our  Grand  Lodge,  with  the  design  of 
neutralizing  all  objections,  resolved:  'That  it  is  not 
necessary  any  longer  to  continue  in  force  those  measures 
which  were  resorted  to  in  or  about  the  year  1739, 
respecting  irregular  Masons;  and  do,  therefore,  enjoin 
the  several  Lodges  to  revert  to  the  ancient  Landmarks  of  the 
Society.'  This  measure  was  completed  by  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  Lodge  of  Promulgation,  with  powers  to  put 
in  practice  certain  instructions  preparatory  to  a  final 
union  between  the  two  societies. 

"Matters  continued  in  this  state,"  said  the  Square, 
"till  1813,  when  Dr.  Hemming  was  re-elected  our  R.  W. 
M. ;  and  at  the  very  commencement  of  the  year  he  com- 
municated the  fact  in  tyled  Lodge,  which  afforded  the 
Brethren  unmixed  gratification.  He  said  that  the  pre- 
liminary steps  had  been  already  taken  to  bring  this 
controverted  dispute  to  an  issue;  and  that  several 
Brethren  were  then  present  who  were  parties  to  the 
conciliatory  measure.  'It  appears,  indeed,'  he  added; 
'to,  be  the  almost  unanimous  opinion  of  the  whole 
Fraternity  of  both  sections,  that  the  removal  of  the 
unimportant  differences  which  have  so  long  kept  the 
Brotherhood  asunder,  will  be  a  means  of  establishing  in 
the  metropolis  of  the  British  empire  one  splendid  edifice 
of  ancient  Freemasonry,  to  which  the  whole  masonic 
world  may  confidently  look  for  the  maintenance  and 
preservation  of  those  pure  principles  of  the  Craft 
which  have  been  handed  down  to  them  from  time 
immemorial,  under  the  protection  of  the  illustrious 
branches  of  the  royal  house  of  Brunswick, — the  practice 
of  loyalty,  morality,  brotherly  love,  and  benevolence, 
which  it  has  been  the  great  object  of  Masonry  to  incul- 
cate, and  of  its  laws  to  enforce.'9 

"  '  As  this  subject  has  been  opened  by  the  R.  W.  M.,' 
said  Bro.  Meyrick,  ' it  may  be  no  breach  of  confidence  on 
my  part  to  add,  that  the  present  unhappy  state  of  the 
Graft,  divided  into  two  hostile  sections,  in  open  and 
undisguised  rivalry  with  each  other,  having  received  the 
attention  of  Brethren  in  the  highest  quarters,  they  have 

»  See  Minutes  of  Grand  Lodge,  Dec.  27,  1813. 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 

resolved,  at  all  hazards,  to  remedy  the  evils  which  have, 
for  so  long  a  period,  resulted  from  this  unnatural  opposi 
tion — civile  avertite  Icllum — by  the  interposition  of  mea- 
sures which  -cannot  fail  to  be  successful.  The  Duke  of 
Athol  has  been  prevailed  on  to  resign  the  office  of  Grand 
Master  at  the  ensuing  election,  and  H.  R.  H.  the  Duke 
of  Kent  is  expected  to  be  his  successor.  This  being 
accomplished,  an  union  between  the  two  parties  is  inevi- 
table ;  and  arrangements  are  actually  in  some  degree  of 
forwardness  to  bring  this  long-controverted  dispute  to  an 
amicable  termination.' 

"Bro.  Shadbolt  then  rose,  and  intimated  'that  H.  R. 
H.  had  graciously  consented  to  accept  the  office  of  Grand 
Master,  and  certain  Brethren  have  been  already  nomina- 
ted on  both  sides  to  arrange  the  details  of  the  projected 
union,  several  of  whom  are  now  present.  I  make  this 
communication  in  perfect  good  faith,  assured  that  it  is  in 
safe  hands,  and  in  no  danger  of  being  repeated  beyond 
the  walls  of  the  Lodge,  until  it  shall  be  officially 
announced.' 

"  The  R.  W.  M.  observed,  that  'such  a  breach  of  faith 
was  not  likely  to  happen,  and  as  he  saw  the  principal 
Brethren  who  were  in  the  secret  then  present,  viz., 
Brothers  Washington  Shirley,  Rodwell  Wright,  Shadbolt, 
Meyrick,  Tegart,  Deans,  and  Stephen.  Jones,  and  as  the 
Lodge,  in  other  respects,  was  remarkably  thin  of  Mem- 
bers, with  no  business  of  importance  to  transact,  it  would 
be  a  favourable  opportunity  to  communicate  to  each 
other  the  results  of  our  private  refi  ctions  or  active 
agency  in  the  prosecution  of  this  impo.  ant  measure,  and 
to  deliberate  on  the  terms  of  re-union  vhich  it  maybe 
expedient  to  propose  to  the  adverse  \  irty,  as  he  was 
aware  that  objections,  apparently  insuperable,  must  be 
met  and  obviated  before  the  erring  Brethren  could  be 
induced  to  acknowledge  their  schism,  and  sue  for  read- 
mission  into  the  ample  fold  of  genuine  Masonry.' 

"  '  I  have  already  had  several  conversations  with  Bro. 
Harper,  and  his  under  spur-leathers,  -Perry,  Agar,  and 
Cranfield  on  the  subject,'  said  Bro.  Tegart,  '  and  they  take 
very  high  ground  at  present.  Their  demands  are  so 
unreasonable,  that  unless  their  influence  be  extinguished 
by  some  authority  superior  to  their  own,  our  attempts 
will  fail,  and  the  projected  union  will  never  be  accom- 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.         309 

plished.  Bro.  Agar  was  bold  enough  to  insinuate  that  our 
only  object  was  to  increase  our  annual  income  by  the 
fees  for  the  registration  of  their  numerous  Members,  and 
that,  consequently,  while  we  are  avowedly  acting  for  the 
benefit  of  Masonry,  we  are,  in  reality,  seeking  an  advant- 
age to  ourselves.' 

"'I  hope,'  said  Bro.  Wright,  'you  repudiated  the 
charge  promptly,  without  descending  to  a  vindication, 
because  they  know  better;  for  it  has  been  repeatedly 
intimated  to  them  that  we  never  contemplated  the  impo- 
sition of  new  fees,  or  of  alienating  any  existing  funds 
from  the  purposes  of  their  original  appropriation.' 

"  '  The  assumption  is  too  absurd  to  merit  any  serious 
notice,'  Bro.  Deans  observed;  'but  I  am  anxious  to 
know  what  Bro.  Harper  says  to  the  measure.' 

"  'Why,  the  fact  is,'  replied  Bro.  Tegart,  'that  he  says 
very  little,  but  appears  distant  and  reserved.  While 
declaring  that  he  should  not  object  to  the  proposed 
union,  if  it  can  be  effected  on  grounds  consistent  with 
the  honour  of  the  ancient  Grand  Lodge,  he  pertinaciously 
attributes  views  and  motives  to  our  party  utterly  at 
variance  with  the  truth,  as  if  he  was  afraid  that  an  union 
of  the  two  sections  would  swallow  up  and  annihilate 
his  own  personal  power,  and  reduce  him  to  a  mere 
unit.' 

"  '  His  power  and  influence,'  said  Bro.  Hemming,  '  will, 
of  course,  be  superseded ;  for  a  person  in  his  rank  of  life 
can  have  no  legitimate  claim  to  the  government  of  such 
a  vast  and  influential  body  as  the  Society  of  Freema- 
sons; and,  indeed,  it  is  the  name  of  the  Duke  of  Athol 
alone  that  imparts  or  confirms  the  influence  which  he 
possesses.' 

"  '  The  Duke  of  Athol  seldom  attends  in  person,  I 
presume  ?'  said  Bro.  Deans,  inquiringly. 

"  'Very  seldom,'  Bro.  Meyrick  answered;  'yet  every 
act  is  published  in  his  name,  and  is  consequently  invested 
with  his  authority,  which  will  be  scattered  to  the  winds 
of  heaven  when  the  Duke  of  Kent  proposes  the  union 
from  the  throne.  Quo  more  pijris  vcsci  Calaber  jubet  liospct. 
No  one,  howr  interested  soever  he  may  be  in  the  present 
state  of  things,  will  be  bold  enough  to  oppose  the  pro- 
jected reform,  which  is  anxiously  anticipated  by  nine  out 
of  every  ten  Brothers  in  both  sections:  and  as  this, 


310         THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

motion  will  assuredly  be  made,  it  only  remains  for  us, 
who  are  intrusted  by  the  Grand  Master  with  the  man- 
agement of  this  delicate  negotiation,  to  determine  finally 
on  what  conditions  their  section  of  the  Fraternity  shall 
be  re-ad mitted  to  all  the  privileges  of  constitutional 
1\Iasonry.  And  I  should  be  glad  to  have  the  benefit  of 
your  deliberate  opinions  on  the  subject.' 

"'.In  the  first  place,'  said  Bro.  Kodweli  Wright,  'and 
as  an  indispensable  condition,  Brothers  Tegart  and 
Deans,  who  have  been  associated  with  me  by  authority 
to  arrange  the  preliminary  negotiations,  have  agreed, 
firmly,  and  with  brotherly  affection,  to  uphold  and  main- 
lain  the  ancient  Landmarks,  and  the  rights,  privileges, 
and  dignity  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  and  the  several  Lodges 
under  the  Constitution  of  England ;  founding  the  nego- 
tiation on  principles  of  perfect  equality,  and  unity  of 
obligation,  discipline,  and  working;  that  the  edifice  of 
the  union  may  be  constructed  on  a  basis  constituted  of 
such  materials  as  must  be  rendered  more  firm  and  com- 
pact by  revolving  years,  and  on  which  the  hand  of  time 
can  work  only  to  prove  that  Masons  possess  the  art  of 
raising  a  structure  which  storms  .cannot  destroy.' 

"  '  The  great  difficulty  will  be,'  Bro.  Tegart  observed, 
'  about  the  disposal  of  the  funds  of  the  Athol  section  ; 
and  I  am  not  aware  that  we  have  any  other  course  open 
on  this  litigated  point,  than  to  declare  openly  and  fairly 
that  the  property  of  both  sections  of  the  Fraternity  shall 
never  be  alienated  from  the  benevolent  purposes  for 
which  it  was  originally  intended ;  but  shall  together 
form  one  common  fund,  to  be  appropriated  equally  to 
the  distressed  of  the  united  community,  without  respect 
of  persons,  or  to  the  education  of  the  orphan  children  of 
Masons,  as  the  case  may  be  ;  that  the  names  of  the 
trustees  shall  not  be  changed ;  but  in  case  of  death  or 
withdrawal,  the  United  Grand  Lodge  shall  possess  the 
power  of  nominating  successors,  who  shall  be  instructed 
to  take  a  special  care  that  the  property  be  not  diverted 
to  any  other  use  or  purpose  whatsoever.' 

"  '  And  with  respect  to  rites  and  ceremonies,'  Bro. 
Deans  added,  '  I  suppose  we  shall  have  to  deal  with 
them  summarily,  so  as  to  secure  a*  perfect  uniformity, 
according  to  the  old  Gothic  Landmarks,  Charges,  and 
Traditions ;  for  I  shall  never  consent  to  depart  from  these 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        311 

• 

authentic  precedents  under  any  circumstances  or  condi- 
tions whatever.' 

"  '  It  will  be  absolutely  necessary  that  we  make  it 
clearly  understood  at  the  very  outset,'  said  the  E.  W.  M., 
thoughtfully,  '  that  it  must  be  publicly  acknowledged, 
without  any  mental  reservation  or  self-evasion  of  mind, 
that  genuine  ancient  Masonry  consists  of  Three  Degrees, 
and  no  more,  viz.,  those  of  Apprentice,  Fellowcraft,  and 
Master,  including  the  Royal  Arch ;  and  a  declaration  to 
this  effect  must  be  insisted  on  as  a  sine  qua  non,  before 
we  can  enter  on  the  details.' 

"  *  The  question  is,'  Bro.  Shirley  replied,  '  how  will 
the  ancients  swallow  this  bitter  pill,  after  having  asserted 
in  their  Book  of  Constitutions,  that  the  Order  is  composed 
of  Four  Degrees  ?10  This  doctrine  has  become  incorpo- 
rated so  essentially  into  their  system,  as  to  constitute 
an  absolute  article  of  faith,  and,  in  reality,  is  the  sole 
difference  between  us  and  them.  They  plume  them- 
selves upon  it,  and  have  passed  strong  censures  on  the 
Constitutional  Grand  Lodge,  .because  we  repudiate  it  as 
an  innovation.  The  question  is,  Can  they  consistently 
acknowledge  themselves  to  be  in  error?' 

"Dr.  Hemming,"  continued  the  Square,  "here  produced 
an  elaborate  engraving  of  the  (so-called)  High  Degrees, 
and  explained  it  to  the  Lodge  as  being  a  complicated 
diagram,  published  by  the  ancients  about  the  year  1790, 
of  several  Degrees  of  Masonry  which  they  had  derived 
from  France.  It  was  entitled  Mysticum  Sapientia  Specu- 
lum, and  contained  numerous  symbols  of  the  different 
Orders  of  Continental  Masonry,  and  also  illustrations  of 
the  acknowledged  Masonic  Cypher.  It  consisted  of  a 
Cross,  inscribed  in  a  Circle,  the  former  containing  eight 
Squares,  completely  charged  with  emblems  of  certain 
Degrees,  not  generally  known  in  this  country.  *  The 
first  Square,  beginning  at  the  top,'  he  said,  '  is  the  car- 
pet or  floorcloth  of  the  Degree  of  Knights  of  the  East 
and  West,  surrounded  by  the  letters  B,  D,  S,  H,  P,  F,  G, 
which  signify  Beauty,  Divinity,  Strength,  Honour,  Power, 
Fidelity,  Glory.11  The  second,  on  the  left  hand,  rep  re- 
gents the  Birth  of  Light  from  Darkness ;  the  next  con- 

10  Ahiman  Kezon,  p.  113,  Harper's  ed.,  1813. 

u  See  the  Hist.  Lmks.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  117,  for  an  explanatory 


312        /niE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE. 

tains  the  emblems  of  the  Degree  of  Rose  Croix  ;12  and 
the  fourth  is  an  allegorical  representation  of  the  Order  of 
Ilarodim.13  The  fifth  is  the  Brute  Stone  (our  Rough 
Ashlar)  symbolizing  the  elements  of  Blue  Masonry.  Then 
we  have  the  Arches  of  Enoch,  as  illustrative  of  the 
Degree  of  Knights  of  the  Ninth  Arch  ;14  and  after  it  the 
Cu bical  Stone  (Perfect  Ashlar),  which,  according  to  a 
legend  at  the  foot,  contains  the  Sacred  Name ;  and,  last 
of  all,  a  diagram  of  the  Degree  of  Prussian  Knights,  or 
Noachites;15  and  in  the  lower  spandrils  are  vestiges  of 
the  Spurious  Freemasonry.  In  the  circle  we  have  a  brief 
exposition  of  the  Seven  Liberal  Sciences,  and  at  the  four 
cardinal  points  are  appropriate  Latin  mottoes.  The  crest, 
or  surmounting  symbol,  is  a  hierogram  appended  to  the 
Degree  of  Knights  of  the  White  Eagle  and  Pelican.'16 

"After  this  extraordinary  engraving  had  been  ex- 
amined," the  Square  continued,  "  the  R.  W.  M.  observed 
that,  *  as  it  was  their  intention  to  confine  ancient  Masonry 
to  its  primitive  category  of  Three  Degrees,  he  entertained 
an  idea  of  republishing  this  curious  document  at  the 
union,17  with  certain  alterations,  as  a  testimony  of  the 
exclusive  claims  of  Blue  Masonry  to  the  sole  considera- 
tion of  the  United  Fraternity.  Thus  lie  would  enliven 
the  dark  angles  of  the  Brochure  with  the  vvords — No 
RARCH — No  KTPS — No  HJIDM — No  KADH,  &c.,  as  a 
standing  proof  that  our  Grand  Lodge  acknowledges 
Three  Degrees  only  ;  and  that,  if  other  Degrees  or  Orders 
are  tolerated,  they  must  be  entirely  disconnected  with 
the  United  Grand  Lodge  of  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  and  work  under  Grand  Lodges  of  their  own.' 

"  'This  wTill  be  a  most  judicious  step,'  said  Bro.  Shir- 
ley, « as  it  will  point  their  own  artillery  in  the  proper 
direction.' 

"  '  But,'  said  Bro.  Wright,  '  they  have  not  only  put 
on  record  their  conviction  that  genuine  ancient  Masonry 
consists  of  Four  Degrees,  but  they  have  publicly,  in  the 


12  See  Hist.  Lmks.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  347.  13  Ibid.  vol.  ii.,  p.  14. 

14  See  Ant.  Mas., 

15  Ibid.  vol.  ii.,  p. 


14  See  Ant.  Mas.,  p.  83.  16  See  Hist.  Lmks.,  vol.  i.,  p.  63. 

"T >.  139. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        313 

Ahiman  Rezon,  declared  that  they  abhor  and  detest  the 
unconstitutional  fopperies  of  cunning,  avaricious  trades- 
men, invented  and  introduced  among  the  moderns  with 
no  other  design  than  to  extract  large  sums  of  money, 
which  ought  to  be  applied  to  more  noble  and  charitable 
uses,18  when,  in  point  of  fact,  if  venality  really  exists,  it 
is  all  on  their  own  part.  But  the  real  delinquent  often 
joins  the  hue  and  cry,  and  is  the  first  to  call  out,  "  Stop 
thief!"  ' 

"  '  True,'  Bro.  Deans  replied ;  l  and  they  have  given 
equal  publicity  to  the  avowal  that  there  is  an  essential 
difference  between  us  in  makings,  ceremonies,  knowledge, 
masonic  language,  and  installation,19  when,  in  reality,  if 
there  be  any  difference  between  the  systems,  it  is  to  be 
attributed  solely  to  the  liberties  they  have  taken  with 
the  Third  Degree.' 

"  '  Bro.  Laurie  has  justly  observed,  in  his  "  History  of 
Freemasonry,"  '  said  Bro.  S.  Jones,  '  that  much  injury 
has  been  done  to  thevcause  of  Masonry  by  a  book  entitled 
"Ahiman  Rezon,"  written  by  one  Dermott,  their  Sec- 
retary, and  very  imprudently  republished  by  Thomas 
Harper,  in  1800.  The  unfairness  with  which  he  has 
stated  the  proceedings  of  the  Regular  Masons,  the  bitter- 
ness with  which  he  treats  them,  and  the  quackery  and 
vain  glory  with  which  he  displays  his  own  pretensions 
to  superior  knowledge,  deserve  to  be  reprobated  by  every 
class  of  Masons  who  are  anxious  for  the  purity  of  their 
Order,  and  the  preservation  of  that  charity  and  mildness 
which  ought  to  characterize  all  their  proceedings.' 

"  '  The  ex  parte  observations  and  censures  against  the 
regular  Craft,'  the  R.  W.  M.  replied,  *  might  be  excusable 
at  the  first  breaking  out  of  the  schism,  when  prejudice 
ran  high,  and  the  disgrace  of  expulsion  was  tingling  in 
their  minds,  as  vents  for  the  discharge  of  superfluous  bile, 
and  props  to  sanction  their  own  designs  at  the  expense 
of  a  powerful  rival ;  but  why  has  Bro.  Harper  reasserted 
these  calumnies  at  the  present  moment,  when  the  negoci- 
ations  are  in  such  a  state  of  forwardness,  by  the  publication 
of  a  new  edition  of  the  ",  Ahiman  Rezon"  even  in  this 
very  month  ?  This  conduct  will  scarcely  admit  of  an 

18  Ahiman  Rezon,  p.  xxvi.  1B  Ibid.  p.  xxx. 


314 

apology ;  for  it  is  evidently  a  device  to  stave  off  the 
approaching  union,  by  a  final  appeal  to  the  passions  and 
prejudices  of  his  Brethren.20  But  the  remedy  is  at  hand. 
An  authority  will  be  interposed  that  is  irresistible,  and 
the  private  interests  of  a  few  must  give  way  to  the 
general  benefit  of  the  Fraternity.  We  shall  take  our 
stand  on  the  ancient  Landmarks;  and  that  is  a  position 
from  which  it  will  be  difficult  to  dislodge  us.  Besides, 
most  of  Bro.  Harper's  immediate  colleagues,  including 
Brothers  Perry  and  Cranfield,  are  as  desirous  of  a  recon- 
ciliation and  general  amnesty  as  ourselves,  and,  therefore, 
we  do  not  anticipate  any  difficulty  when  the  subject 
comes  fairly  before  a  Committee,  composed  of  an  equal 
number  of  members  from  either  party.' 

"  '  I  presume,'  Bro.  Jones  asked,  *  that  all  the  Athol 
Fraternity  must  be  re-obligated  before  their  admission 
amongst  us?' 

"  'It  will  be  unnecessary,  I  should  think,'  Bro.  Mey- 
rick  replied. 

"  'And  yet,'  said  the  R.  W.  M.,  4it  will  be  stipulated 
as  an  express  condition  on  our  part,  that,  before  their 
aames  are  entered  on  our  books,  the  0.  B.  shall  be  ad- 
ministered. And  for  this  purpose  it  has  been  suggested, 
that  a  certain  number  of  expert  Brethren  from  each  sec- 
tion of  the  Craft  shall  meet  together  at  some  convenient 
central  place  in  London,  when  each  party  having  opened, 
in  a  separate  apartment,  a  just  and  perfect  Lodge,  agree- 
able to  their  peculiar  regulations,  they  shall  give  xand 
receive,  mutually  and  reciprocally,  the  obligations  of 
both  Fraternities,  deciding,  by  lot,  which  shall  take 
priority  in  giving  and  receiving  the  same  ;  and,  being 
thus  all  duly  and  equally  enlightened  in  both  forms, 
they  shall  be  empowered  and  directed  to  hold  a  Lodge 
under  the  warrant  or  dispensation  to  be  entrusted 

20  These  conversations  may  be  considered  by  living  Masons  as  an 
exaggerated  picture"  of  the  feelings  and  sentiments  of  the  Fraternity. 
But,  in  reality,  they  are  a  subdued  representation  of  the  very  high 
state  of  excitement  which  prevailed  amongst  both  sections  for  several 
years  before  the  union  was  effected.'  And  it  would  be  utterly  impos- 
sible for  any  person,  who  had  n&t  witnessed  the  operation  of  these 
feelings,  as  I  have  done,  to  form  the  slightest  estimate  of  the  extent 
to  which  the  rivalry  was  carried. 


THE  REVELATIONS  OF  A  SQUARE.        315 

to  them,  and  to  be  entitled  the  Lodge  of  Keconcilia- 
tion.' 

"Accordingly,"  said  the  Square,  "the  Duke  of  Kent 
being  elevated  to  the  throne,  and  the  preliminaries 
having  been  mutually  arranged,  the  Articles  of  Union 
were  signed  at  Kensington  Palace  by  the  contracting 
parties,  viz.,  the  Dukes  of  Sussex  and  Kent,  and  by 
Brothers  Waller  Rodwell  Wright,  Arthur  Tegart,  and 
James  Deans,  on  the  part  of  the  constitutional  Masons ; 
and  Thomas  Harper,  James  Perry,  and  James  Agar,  on 
the  part  of  the  Athols ;  and  the  Great  Seal  of  each 
Grand  Lodge  was  affixed  on  the  first  day  of  December, 
1813. 

"  The  thirteenth  article  of  union  provided  that,  'after 
the  day  of  reunion,  certain  worthy  and  expert  Brothers 
shall  be  appointed  to  visit  and  attend  the  several  Lodges 
for  the  purpose  of  promulgating  the  pure  and  unsullied 
system,  that  a  perfect  reconciliation,  unity  of  obligation, 
working,  language,  ana  uiess,  may  be  restored  to  the 
English  Craft.' 

"  On  St.  John's  day,  in  the  above  month  and  year," 
the  Square  continued,  "  this  important  measure  was 
consummated  at  Freemasons'  Hall  by  a  general  assembly 
of  the  whole  {English  Craft,  and  the  representatives  of 
several  foreign  Lodges.  As  I  was  suspended  from  the 
collar  of  one  of  the  Masters  on  this  august  occasion,  I  am 
able  to  give  you  a  particular  account  of  the  ceremony. 
It  was  a  most  magnificent  scene,  and,  unfortunately,  the 
last  masonic  celebration  I  was  ever  destined  to  witn.ess  ; 
for,  a  new  description  of  jewels  being  now  adopted,  I 
was  laid  up  in  ordinary,  and  have  been  in  obscurity  ever 
since.  I'll  tell  you  how  it  was." 

"You  need  not  give  yourself  the  trouble,"  I  exclaim- 
ed, forgetting  our  compact  at  the  moment;  "for  I  am 
already  acquainted  with  every  detail  of  that  memorable 
ceremony." 

I  saw  my  error  at  once  ;  for,  while  I  was  yet  speaking, 
.my  companion  fell  prone  upon  the  table,  where  he  lay 
silent,  and,  without  any  token  of  animation,  a  simple 
silver  Square,  and  nothing  more.  I  started — rubbed  my 
eyes — the  clock  struck  two — the  candles  were  burning 
in  the  sockets,  and  I  thought  I  must  have  been  asleep. 


316 


THE    REVELATIONS    OF    A    SQUARE. 


I  regretted  my  premature  exclamation,  which  had,  prob- 
ably, deprived  me  of  some  interesting  anecdotes  of  the 
illustrious  Brothers  who  were  principally  concerned  in 
that  celebrated  movement;  for,  as  to  the  transaction 
itself,  it  had  been  already  laid  before  the  public  in  Pres- 
ton's "  Illustrations,"  and  in  my  own  letter  to  Dr.  Crucefix 
on  the  "  Origin  of  the  Royal  Arch." 


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THE  GENERAL  AHIMAN  EEZON  AND  FREEMASON'S  GUIDE,  con- 
taining Monitorial  Instructions  in  the  Degrees  of  Entered 
Apprentice,  Fellow-Craft  and  Master  Mason,  with  explana- 
tory notes,  emendations  and  lectures:  together  with  the 
Ceremonies  of  Consecration  and  Dedication  of  New  Lodges, 
Installation  of  Grand  and  Subordinate  Officers,  Laying 
Foundation  Stones,  Dedication  of  Masonic  Halls,  Grand 
Visitations,  Burial  Services,  Kegulations  for  Processions, 
Masonic  Calendar,  etc.  To  which  are  added  a  Kitual  for 
a  Lodge  of  Sorrow,  and  the  Ceremonies  of  Consecrating 
Masonic  Cemeteries:  also  an  Appendix,  with  the  forms 
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Freemason's  Monitor,  containing  all  the  Degrees  in  the 
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The  Historical  Landmarks  and  other  Evidences  of  Free- 
masonry Explained  in  a  series  of  Practical  Lectures,  with 
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Signs  and  Symbols,  Illustrated  and  Explained  in  a  Course  of 
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Large  Duodecimo. 

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The  History  of  Initiation,  in  Twelve  Lectures;  comprising  a 
Detailed  Account  of  the  Bites  and  Ceremonies,  Doctrines, 
and  Discipline  of  the  Secret  and  Mysterious  Institutions 
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Duodecimo — 300  pages. 

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The  Symbol  of  Glory,  showing  the  Object  and  End  of  Free- 
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The  Lights  and  Shadows  of  Freemasonry;    consisting  of 
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lished.    By  Bob.  Morris,  K.  T. 

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The  Theocratic  Philosophy  of  Freemasonry,  in  Twelve  Lec- 
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By  George  Oliver,  D.  D.     Large  Duodecimo. 

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The  Bevelations  of  a  Square,  exhibiting  a  graphic  display 
of  the  Sayings  and  Doings  of  Eminent  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  from  the  Bevival  in  1717,  by  Dr.  Desaguliers,  to 
the  Beunion  in  1813.  By  George  Oliver,  D.  D.  Boyal 
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The  Mystic  Tie;  or  Facts  and  Opinions,  illustrative  of  the 
Character  and  Tendency  of  Freemasonry.  By  Albert  G. 
Mackey,  M.  D. 

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I  Half  Morocco — Uniform  Library  Edition.     2  50 

Traditions  of  Freemasonry  and  its  Coincidences  with  the 
Ancient  Mysteries.  By  -A.  T.  C.  Pierson.  Large  Duo- 
decimo— fine  cloth 2  00 

Manual  of  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  containing  Symbols, 
Scriptural  Illustrations,  Lectures,  etc.,  adapted  to  the 
system  of  Adoptive  Masonry.  Beautifully  Illustrated. 
Gilt  Edges  and  Illuminated  Cover 1  00 

Signet  of  King  Solomon;  or,  the  Freemason's  Daughter. 
By  Aug.  C.  L.  Arnold,  LL.D.  Splendidly  Illustrated 1  25 

Ancient  Constitutions  of  Freemasons.  By  James  Anderson. 
A  verbatim  copy  of  the  original  edition  of  1723 1  00 


Taaffe's  History  of   the  Knights  of  Malta.     8vo.     4 

bound  in  2 „ 5  00 

Text-Book  of  Masonic  Jurisprudence,  by  A.  G.  Mackey 2  00 

Book  of  the  Chapter,  by  A.  G.  Mackey 1  50 

Manual  of  the  Lodge,  by  A.  G.  Mackey 1  50 

Lexicon  of  Freemasonry,  by  A.  G.  Mackey 3  00 

Familiar  Treatise  on  the  Principles  and  Practice  of  Masonic 

Jurisprudence,  by  John  W.  Simons 1  50 

Digest  of  Masonic  Law,  by  G.  W.  Chase 1  50 

Origin  and  Early  History  of  Masonry,  by  G.  W.  Steinbrenner  75 

Book  of  the  Commandery,  by  John  W.  Simons 75 

Manual  of  the  Chapter,  by  Sheville  &  Gould 75 

Freemason's  Monitor,  by  Webb 75 

Freemason's  Hand-Book,  by  Wm.  H.  Drew Tuck.  1  00 

Masonic  Manual,  by  J.  Ashe 1  00 

Moral  Design  of  Freemasonry,  by  S.  Lawrence 1  00 

Freemason's  Pocket  Library  and  Working  Monitor,  by  G.W. 

Chase Tuck.  1  50 

Rationale  and  Ethics  of  Freemasonry,  by  A.  C.  L.  Arnold.  . .  1  00 
Masonic  Advocate,  containing  Mackey's  Lexicon  and  Oliver's 

Masonic  Dictionary 1  50 

Des  Freimaurer's  Handbuch  ( German) 75 


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Manual  of  the  Ancient  and  Accepted  Kite,  by  William  TVL 

Cunningham $2  00 

Manual  de  la  Masoneria,  (Spanish,)  by  A.  Cassard 8  00 

Craftsman  and  Freemason's  Guide,  by  C.  Moore 1  60 

Freemason's  Manual,  by  K.  J.  Stewart 1  50 

Masonic  Trestle-Board,  by  C.  W.  Moore 1  50 

Masonic  Text-Book,  by  J.  L.  Cross tuck.  1  50 

Masonic  Chart,  by  J.  L.  Cross 1  60 

Templar's  Chart,  by  J.  L.  Cross 2  00 

Star  in  the  East,  by  George  Oliver 1  00 

Bevelations  of  a  Square,  by  George  Oliver 1  50 

History  of  the  Ancient  and  Accepted  Kite,  by  Kobt  B.  Folger.  5  00 

Antiquities  of  Freemasonry,  by  George  Oliver 1  25 

Statutes  and  Regulations  of  the  Ancient  and  Accepted  Kite, 

by  A.  Pike 2  00 

Beauties  of  Freemasonry  Exemplified,  by  George  Oliver. ...  20 

Outlines  of  Speculative  Freemasonry,  by  Salem  Town 20 

Mason  in  High  Places,  by  an  English  Rector. 20 

Juryman  Mason,  by  an  English  Rector 25 

Masonic  Vocal  Manual,  by  Robt  Macoy per  doz.  3  00 

Masonic  Harp,  by  George  W.  Chase 1  00 

Ancient  Constitutions  of  1723,  by  James  Anderson 75 

Keystone  of  the  Masonic  Arch,  by  Charles  Scott 1  25 

Master  Workman,  by  James  K.  Hall tuck.  1  25 

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Proposition  Book 3  00 

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